MAHOPAC
It’s safe to say Mahopac is ready for next week’s gymnastics sectionals.
Mahopac dominated Friday’s 27th annual Mahopac Invitational with the Blue team placing first in the five-team meet with 71.15 points and the Gold team coming in second with 62 at Lakeview Elementary School.
Emotions were running high for the seniors competing in the final regular-season meet as they prepare for divisionals Monday and Tuesday and the sectionals on Thursday.
Liz Allen, Mahopac Blue’s captain, scored a 9.4 to capture the beam, a sure sign she is ready for the postseason after a disappointing end to last season when she didn’t qualify for the state meet.
“My expectations are for me to do my best, but I really hope to make states this year,” Allen said. “Last year I was a little upset that I didn’t make it and it’s definitely a goal of mine moving forward.”
Allen and her teammates believe they can be very competitive against Nyack and Tappan Zee at Monday’s division meet at Lakeview. Teammate Melissa King, who qualified for the state championships on the beam a year ago and placed first Friday on the uneven bars with a score of 8.15, wants nothing more than to send her senior captains, Allen and Ashlee Belkevich, off to college with a victory and school record.
“We’ve been together for a really long time and our one goal we talked about among each other is bettering the Mahopac beam record,” King said. “If we can do that it will be a great accomplishment for their senior year.
“For me to help them to get into that book in their senior year would be amazing.”
Carmel senior captain Brittani Muccio was disappointed with her performance Friday, but she hopes to improve upon it at divisionals. Last year she qualifed for the state championships on the beam, a feat she hopes to duplicate.
“I’ve been trying to stay positive and focused this year although it’s been a little bit difficult to do,” Muccio said about her early troubles. “But all I want to do is finish strong, especially because it’s my senior year.”
Mahopac Blue’s Belkevich placed first on the floor exercise with a score of 9.45. Teammate Callie Johanson placed first on all-around with a 35.3. Carmel took the next two spots with Daniela Nudo placing second with a 33.6 and Ava Mersich placing third with a 33.05.
Twitter: therealjdennis
