Gymnasts demonstrate strengths at home
BY STEVE SHEPPARD
With crowd-pleasing performances in their only home meet of the year, Whaler gymnasts combined for a 111.5 score Saturday.

Freshman Caroline Powers earned high scores during Saturday's home meet.

Freshman Caroline Powers led the team in scoring in all-around competition with 32.1 points, while Maxine Daniels earned 28.5 points in all-arounds.

Tiffani Montijo also did well in her three events, netting scores of 7.4 in vault, 5.2 on the parallel bars and 7.3 in floor exercise.

For coach Richelle D'Elia, it was a good start to the year. "We did wonderfully," she said of the trimeet that brought Cohasset and Barnstable to the island. "I was really pleased with each one of the girls."

Katie McGrath is captain of the 11 gymnasts on this year's team, which features several freshmen. Rounding out the team are Shauna Asplint, Sophie Civitarese, Kristie Flaherty, Melissa Holdgate, Emma Knutti, Emily Mentes and Carolyn Priestly.

Although the team may be young, it is prepared. "As a team our strengths are vault and floor," D'Elia noted. The team totaled 31.7 points in floor exercises Saturday, and 31.2 in vault.

Nantucket's gymnasts offer encouragement during this year's only home meet. From far left, Carolyn Priestley, Tiffani Montijo, Maxine Daniels, Kristie Flaherty, Shauna Asplint, Sophie Civitarese, Emily Mentes and Emma Knutti.

The team joins the Cranberry League this year after competing as an independent last year. Being part of a league brings with it the challenge of facing more established teams, a challenge that D'Elia and her team are ready for. "We're looking forward to competing against each team in the league," she said.

Based on Saturday's performance, Nantucket will need no introduction.

The gymnasts' next meet is scheduled for this Saturday at Carver High School in a tri-meet

with Bridgwater-Raynham High School. I