Gymnastics team sets new WHS mark

The Winthrop High gymnastics team set a new school record for points in a single meet with a big victory over Gloucester, 142.2-138.75.

“Gloucester had beaten Danvers, who had beaten us, so it was a great victory for the girls,” said WHS head coach Peter Gobiel. “They really buckled down and put together their best meet of the season.”

Outstanding performances for Winthrop included Jade Santangelo and Kayla Knight, who tied on bars, scoring 9.0. Capt Daria Millerick and Kayla Knight tied on beam with a 9.0 score. Senior Michelle Fahey came through with her best beam routine of the season, scoring an 8.7.

In vaulting, Santangelo, Danika Dell’Anno, and Knight all tied with a high score of 9.0, followed by Capt Missy Page with an 8.5.

The floor exercise was the team’s best of the season, with Page receiving her highest score of the year with an 8.9. Dell’Anno received a 9.0 as did Millerick. Another brilliant performance also was turned in by Knight, scoring a 9.5.

Rounding out the meet of the year with solid contributions were Jessica Fahey , Kristine Hegarty and Sam Amico.

Winthrop now will gear up for the conference meet Saturday at the Yellow Jackets gym in Middleton. The senior meet is Sunday morning at the same location.

Monday is the seeding meeting at the MIAA office in Franklin. Winthrop will find out where it is seeded for the North sectional meet. Twelve teams will meet at the same time, with four teams moving on to the State Meet.

“Reaching the states is extremely difficult,” said Gobiel. “Winthrop never has qualified for the state team meet. If there is any year in which we have a shot, this is it.”

There also is a state individual meet February 14 and it is expected that several Winthrop girls will qualify.