ESG - Gymnastics
Repeat a tall order for Western
by MATT KRUEGER Reporter

Williamsville's Kristina Arcury placed third on all-around and beam for the Western Region women's open gymnastics team. File photo

The Western Region will be hard-pressed to match last year's performance when it returns to the Empire State Games this week in Westchester County.

Western won all four divisions by whopping margins practically unheard-of in gymnastics. The scholastic women, scholastic men, open women and open men combined to win four gold medals by 24 and a half points over the nearest competition. Usually, the difference between first and second place is a matter of fractions of a point. But Western made the other five regions look like minor leaguers.

"It builds expectations," men's coach Dan Molnar said of winning so easily. "We're always looking to win. It's hard for us to go down there. We know there are other good clubs and other good gymnasts out there. But when you win all the time, you want to keep that up. You want to keep winning. You want to keep doing well. There are expectations on the coaching and the gymnasts."

While the expectations and hopes are there on the team, many of the kids who helped Western win last year are gone. The open women's team lost Emily Green, Sarah Moore and Jenna Raepple, all of whom placed in the top five in the all-around competition. The open men are without Karl Jaanimagi and Matt Long. The scholastic women's team lost Deanna Favero and had Kayla Gray and Kailyn Arcury move up to open.

"Last year, we were pretty loaded in scholastic and open (women) and we won by pretty wide margins," open women's coach Kurt Stumpf said. "This year, if we win, it will be very, very close."

Here's a look at each division:

Scholastic Women

The Western team has a much different look this year, as only Buffalo's Kaitlyn Lopez returns from last year. Lopez finished third in the all-around.

She's joined by newcomers Erin Hamister of Orchard Park, Nicole Radon and Kelsey Kryszak of Hamburg, Chelsea Recor and Mary Hamilton of Lancaster, and Andrea Favero of Youngstown.

"We should do well," Stumpf said. "It's just a matter of if you can be consistent and trying to be well-balanced on all four events."

Scholastic Men

Cheektowaga's Aaron Benson came up four points short of winning the all-around title last year, finishing with a 52.2. New York City's John Orozco won with a 56.2.

That loss has motivated Benson, who also took second on rings and floor, to chase down the title this year.

"I think I've improved very much in a couple events, because I worked on form and added a few new skills," he said. "I really want to try to win this year, because I have a very good shot. Hopefully, I can succeed in my goal."

Grand Island's Jimmy Pezzino is also back from his fifth-place all-around finish and is joined by Williamsville's Nate Roberson, Cody Stumpf and Noah Roberson and Clarence's Michael Wozniak and Adam Arena.

Open Women

Lancaster's Courtney Connors tops the team this year after she placed first at the tryouts. She won a silver medal on floor last year.

"I feel pretty comfortable going into the games," Connors said. "I just want to hit 4-for-4 and have fun."

She'll get plenty of help from Williamsville's Kristina Arcury and Kailyn Arcury, Penfield's Alexandra Kourbatova, Sanborn's Nicole Irving, Grand Island's Raepple and Buffalo's Gray. Kristina Arcury finished third in the all-around and on beam last year, while Raepple was fifth all-around.

Open Men

Keith Stumpf of Williamsville leads the way for the team, after winning the pommel horse; taking third on the horizontal bar, floor exercise and vault; and placing sixth in the all-around competition last year.

Rounding out the young roster are East Amherst's Michael Morse, Webster's Adam Marou, Buffalo's Kenneth Byrd, Depew's Cory Kowalski and Joe Conti, and Clarence's Joseph Lysen.

"Open this year is going to be super-tough," Molnar said. "I hope we can go out there and win, but they're going to have to have perfect routines this year. They're going to have to really hit."

e-mail: mkrueger@beenews.com