Farrell leads Sweet Home
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

An experienced gymnastics veteran will lead this year's Sweet Home varsity girls gymnastics team.

Senior Jamie Farrell is back for her sixth year. Farrell, who competes year round with Gleason's Gymnastics School, qualified for last year's Section VI Championships in all-around. Sweet Home coach Dianne Weinert is looking for Farrell to return to sectionals.

"She's very reliable, steady, has a good work ethic, and a good student," said Weinert.

Other returning gymnasts include hard-working junior Juliana Ruiz, sophomore Jamie Levin, who is also trying cheerleading at the same time, and freshman Erica Reeb. Weinert said Levin can compete in all events but may be limited to floor exercise and bars because of cheerleading.

"I wouldn't be surprised if she's able to do all-around," said Weinert.

Reeb will compete on floor.

The rest of the team is new and includes freshman Stephanie Bakowski, and seventh graders Kali Baird, Lauren Rabenold, Sydney Rait, Carissa Turner, Alex Watts, and Matt Rao, the first boy gymnast in Sweet Home history to compete on the girls team.

Weinert said team goals are qualifying Farrell for sectionals in all-around, improving the team's overall record from last year, and getting the seventh graders to compete in three events each.

"It's a team that has a good work ethic and is so nice to work with," she added.

Sweet Home 2006 Schedule 9-26 Lewiston-Porter, East (scrimmage) ..... 5 p.m. 10-3 at South w/Lancaster.............................. 5 p.m. 10-6 Clarence, Maryvale (non-league) ......... 5 p.m. 10-10 at Lancaster w/Amherst....................... 5 p.m. 10-13 Amherst (non-league).............................. 5 p.m. 10-19 at Ken. West w/Lew-Port (Hoover Middle School) .............................................................. 5 p.m. 10-24 at North w/Hamburg ............................. 5 p.m. 10-26 at Orchard Park w/Frontier ................ 5 p.m. 10-28 at Halloween Invitational (Lancaster).. TBA 11-4 at Section VI Championships (Williamsville East) ..................................................................... TBA

Amherst Central

Numbers are diminishing for gymnastics at Amherst. This year's girls gymnastics roster only has five athletes. Last year's team had eight. The Amherst boys team only fields five gymnasts.

"Nowadays the in thing is cheerleading, which happens during the same season, so a lot of the girls who have gymnastics background and who can tumble, do cheerleading," said Amherst coach Marcy Reynard.

The most experienced gymnasts returning for Amherst are junior Dana Ruh and freshman Annalise Polvino. Both are club gymnasts and will compete in all-around. It's Polvino's first year on varsity. Ruh was the only Amherst gymnast to compete at last year's Section VI Championships.

"They know how to help the other girls with their routine and give tips on skills and what to improve which is nice to have," said Reynard.

Also on the team are senior captain Jamie Seymour (floor exercise, balance beam, vault), junior Jordan Pescrillo (all-around), and freshman Kelsey Battaglia (all-around).

Reynard said a goal is to get all five to sectionals.

"They're a great group of girls," said Reynard. "Hopefully, the kids will keep improving."

Amherst Central

2006 Schedule 10-4 at Ken.West w/Clarence .............................. 5 p.m. 10-11 at East w/Maryvale............................... 5 p.m. 10-16 at Lew-Port w/Ken. East...................... 5 p.m. 10-28 at Halloween Invitational (Lancaster).. TBA 11-4 at Section VI Championships (Williamsville East) ..................................................................... TBA

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com