Section VI places third at states; Arcury named all-star
Gymnastics
by MATT KRUEGER Reporter

Williamsville South senior Kristina Arcury took fourth in all-around at the New York State Championships on Saturday at Carmel High School. Arcury was named a New York State all-star.

While Western New York may be a hotbed for quality gymnasts, Section VI has repeatedly come up just short at the New York State Championships.

Section VI won its only state championship in 2000, but has placed in the top three for the past 20 years.

And you can add the 2007-08 season to the list, as Section VI placed third at this past weekend's state meet at Carmel High School. Section VI scored 181.700 points to finish behind Section I (186.175) and Section III (182.675).

"The competition is very good at the state meet," Section Coordinator and Lancaster coach Donna Aquino said. "New York State has some very good gymnasts, especially down by the New York City area. We're always very strong, but we just can't seem to come out on top each year."

Section VI's failure to win the state championship this year, wasn't due to a lack of effort or mistakes in routines. Of the 20 routines that counted toward the score, Section VI only counted falls on two of them. That's only a one-point deduction from the team score. Last year, Section VI counted six falls on balance beam, a three-point deduction, and ended up losing the team title by 1.35 points to Section I (New York City).

"We're a little younger this year," Aquino said. "But the girls did very well for what they were able to do. We only had two seniors on the team."

One of those seniors, Kristina Arcury of Williamsville South, followed up her Section VI all-around title with a fourth-place finish at states. Arcury, a two-time sectional champion and six-time state competitor, posted a 37.050 all-around score to finish a little more than a point out of first place. Section Eight's Jessica Panza won the title with a 38.100, while Section I's Kyle Shields (38.075) and Danielle Bonner (37.325) took second and third, respectively.

Arcury placed third on uneven bars (9.45), fourth on beam (9.55), 11th on vault (8.95) and 15th on floor exercise (9.1)

"I talked to her after the meet and told her 'I'm so proud of you,'" Aquino said of Arcury, who will compete for Kent State University in the fall. "I remember her as a seventh-grader. She was so nervous at the state meet, she was racked with fear. But she maintained her competitiveness all through high school. It will be sad to see her go, but that's what happens. The girls have to move on after high school."

Arcury was Section VI's only athlete named to the state all-star team.

Lancaster's Amanda Recor finished seventh in the all-around competition with a 36.675, while Kenmore East's Sarah Nadrowski (36.625) was eighth. Recor, who won the sectional vault and floor titles back in November, finished fourth on vault (9.2) and 11th on floor (9.225), bars (9.05) and beam (9.2). Nadrowski, who finished second at the Section VI meet, finished fifth on bars (9.35), seventh on floor (9.325), eighth on vault (9.05) and 17th on beam (8.9).

"We'll be looking for more out of Amanda and Sarah next year," Aquino said. "They both did well at states, and I expect them to lead the Section VI team next year."

Frontier's Nicole Radon finished seventh on bars (9.175), ninth on vault (9.0) and 12th on floor (9.2). Teammate Kelsey Kryszak finished 25th on bars (8.4).

Williamsville South's Kailyn Arcury placed 13th on vault (8.85), 15th on bars (8.925) and 31st on beam (8.25).

Hamburg's Taylor Wierzba finished 18th on beam (8.875) and 20th on floor (8.9). Teammate Elise Konikoff placed 18th on floor (9.0) and 23rd on vault (8.35).

Lancaster's Chelsea Recor went to states as an alternate after finishing sixth in the all-around competition at the Section VI meet. She ended up competing on beam, when Kenmore West's Marissa Fabrizi decided not to make the trip. Recor placed 29th with a 8.325.

"Young girls can get nervous a bit at states," Aquino said. "In a big meet like that, I look to the older girls to keep them cool and calm. States is so much different. Next year, these young girls will be all the better for having this experience."