Gleason's Gymnastics
Level 8 team takes third at Niagara Cup

Sweet Home High School senior Jamie Farrell, far left, placed ninth on floor exercise in the senior division to help the Level 8 Niagara gymnastic team from Gleason's School of Gymnastics place third at the 26th Niagara Cup last weekend at Canisius College. Also pictured is Jessica Hoover, Niagara Level 9, Dominique Moceanu, 1996 Olympic gymnast and current coach of Gymnastics World outside of Cleveland, Maddie Quarantillo (Niagara Level 8), and Kelley Feather (Niagara Level 8, Tonawanda).

The Niagara gymnastic team from Gleason's School of Gymnastics hosted the 26th annual Niagara Cup gymnastics meet this past weekend at Canisius College's Koessler Athletic Center.

The meet attracted over 700 gymnasts from across the state. Competition was fierce as top gymnasts from the New York City area, Cleveland, Ohio, Erie, Pa. and Pittsburgh, Pa. competed. Also in attendance was former Olympic gymnast Dominique Moceanu, who was coaching her team, Gymnastics World from Broadview Heights, Ohio.

The Level 8 competition featured over 90 gymnasts in two age groups. Jamie Farrell, a Sweet Home High School senior, placed ninth on floor exercise with a 9.05 in the senior age group. In the junior age group, Casey Middle School seventh grader Lily Jagodzinski had a beautiful balance beam routine, scoring a 9.15. The Level 8 team took third place behind Gymnastics World and X-Cel out of Cranberry Township, Pa.

In Level 7, Sweet Home Middle School seventh grader Jill Daddario took 12th place all-around with a score of 36.875. She placed sixth on vault with an amazing 9.6, 12th on bars with a 9.125, and 13th on beam with a 9.05. Daddario's classmate, Lydia Penberthy placed 3rd all-around in Level 6 with a score of 34.95. She took third on bars (8.55) and floor exercise (8.775), fourth on beam (8.8), and fifth on vault (8.825).

In Level 5, Heim Elementary School fourth grader Madison Nash scored 8.75 on beam and 8.3 on bars.

The Level 4 team from Niagara took third place in team competition with a 187.40. Leading the 6 to 8 year-old division was St. Christopher School second grader Abigail DeCicco. DeCicco had her best meet of the season, placing in three events and the all-around. She placed fifth on bars with a score of 9.0. Her scores of 9.275 on beam and 9.0 on floor earned her seventh and twelfth places, respectively. She earned her highest all-around score of the season with a 36.275 for ninth place.

Competing in the 9 to 11 year-old division, Willow Ridge fifth grader Meghan Aronica also had a solid meet. Her high score of the day came on the beam, where she received a 9.35 for sixth place. She also placed on the bars (9.05, 15th place).