Boys Gymnastics
Williamsville leads Section VI to regional win
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Williamsville North's Michael Maziel closed out his high school career with his second New York State title in the pommel horse at Saturday's Regional Boys Gymnastics Championships at Brockport State College. File photo

Section VI showed its depth in a convincing performance at the 2006 Regional Boys Gymnastics Championships on Saturday at Brockport State College.

Section VI won regionals for the fourth straight year with 150.25 points, four points more than Section III's (Syracuse) 145.9. Section II (Albany) took third with 116.5 points.

It is Section VI's best score of the last four years. They cumulated 145.5 in 2003, 143.7 in 2004 and 148 in 2005.

"It was an all-around great meet," said Section VI boys gymnastics chairman and Williamsville coach Joe Buscaglia. "I thought it was close throughout the meet and when I saw the final score, it really wasn't as close as I thought. It kind of shows we're a powerhouse in New York State compared to the Albany and Syracuse regions."

Clarence, the Section VI regular season champs at 10-0, sent five gymnasts to regionals to Williamsville's four but the Williamsville kids had better results.

Williamsville North's Jarred Forman placed third all-around (48.9) which included a first on rings (8.85) and third on pommel horse (7.65) and high bar (7.4). North teammate Michael Maziel won his second high school regional title on pommel horse with an 8.2. Maziel was also second on parallel bar (7.55) and rings (7.3). Both are seniors. Maziel has been on the team for six years, Forman for five.

"They've meant a lot to the program," said Buscaglia. "Every year they have contributed, helped younger guys in practice and led that tradition of winning. I wish both of them luck in the future."

Forman and Maziel were not the only Williamsville gymnasts who performed well. Williamsville South seventh graders Cody Stumpf and Nathaniel Roberson closed out their respective rookie high school gymnastic seasons with a tremendous showing. Stumpf was third on vault (9.2), tied for fourth on floor exercise (8.9) and placed fourth in high bar (7.3). Roberson placed second on pommel horse (8.050) and seventh on floor (8.55) and rings (5.7).

"This team encompassed everything," said Buscaglia. "We had veterans like Michael Maziel and Jarred Forman and rookies in Cody Stumpf and Nathaniel Roberson. By the places we came in, we were a team of great depth. Everyone contributed. The rookies didn't compete like rookies and the veterans competed like I expected them to. We just keep replacing gymnasts (who graduate) with equal talent and it hasn't dropped off at all."

Clarence's Michael Morse finished second all-around (52.2) with a first on vault (9.55), third on floor (9.1) and fifth on high bar (7.25). Section III's Samora Campbell won the all-around title with a score of 52.45.

Other Section VI gymnasts competing were Clarence's Eric Neidermeier (vault, seventh, 8.45; high bar, seventh, 6.5; floor, ninth, 8.15), Taylor Van Kuren (rings, sixth, 5.8), Cameron Collins (parallel bars, seventh, 4.55) and Adam Cole (vault, 12th, 7.55), and Hamburg's Brian Kent (parallel bars, fourth, 6.55; high bar, eighth, 4.6; pommel horse, sixth, 6.95).

Despite Section V dropping boys gymnastics this year, its future in New York State still looks bright.

Buscaglia said Nina Van Erk, the New York State Public High School Athletic Association's Executive Director, was in attendance at regionals and enjoyed the event.

"We have her support," he said. "She wants to keep it going as long as we can so I don't see us going anywhere. It's business as usual for next year."

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com