Section VI wins one for the thumb
Boys Gymnastics
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Section VI continued its dominance over the rest of New York State in boys gymnastics at Saturday's Regional Championships at Brockport State College.

Section VI won regionals for the fifth straight year with 146.85 points. The score was 21.30 points more than Section II (Albany) 125.55 and 26.05 more than Section III (Syracuse) 120.8.

"It wasn't even close," said Williamsville coach and Section VI boys gymnastics chair Joe Buscaglia. "Winning by a couple of points is a lot; winning by 20 points is tremendous."

"I think the level of gymnastics in Section VI is far better than other sections," he continued. "Plus, we were confident because we've won it in previous years. We were head and shoulders above the other teams."

Buscaglia told the Section VI team before the meet to stay consistent and positive outcomes will follow. The team responded by winning every event and placing several gymnasts in the top ten.

Clarence's Michael Morse and John Zirna went 1-2 in all-around competition. Morse, a senior, had a score of 51.05; Zirna, an eighth-grader who led by seven tenths of a point going into the last event, finished with 50.45 points.

Morse won regional titles in floor exercise (9.2), pommel horse (8.1) and vault (9.3). Zirna took home top honors on rings (7.8), parallel bars (8.2) and high bar (8.05).

Clarence, which finished back-to-back 10-0 regular seasons, had three other gymnasts place. Joey Lysen went fifth on vault in 8.6 and sixth on floor (7.8) and rings (4.3). Adam Cole came in fifth on high bar in 5.6. Connor Story was 10th in pommel horse at 5.35.

The Williamsville schools also did well.

Williamsville South Cody Stumpf took second in floor (9.15), vault (9.1) and high bar (7.4). Teammate Nathaniel Roberson came in second on parallel bars (7.8) and pommel horse (7.6) and third on floor (8.85). Stumpf and Roberson are eighth-graders.

Williamsville East's Spencer Kieffer, East's only boy gymnast, finished ninth in pommel horse (6.05) and rings (4.05).

Williamsville North's Brandon O'Brien came in seventh on vault (8.0), ninth on parallel bars (4.4) and 10th on rings (3.9). North's Joey Chearmonte was ninth on high bar (3.6).

Hamburg's Madison Rich was 12th in parallel bars with a score of 3.4.

With only three sections in the state having boys gymnastics, the future of the sport is always a question. But Buscaglia hasn't heard anyone tell him the sport won't continue.

"Every year is a new year so until someone else tells me differently, I think we should be all right for now," said Buscaglia. "Only time will tell. We're set for next year. We've already scheduled next year's regional meet at Brockport State College."

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com