UNH wins Fox Run, Yale’s Liao takes All Around, Bridgeport, Air Force continue consistent scoring.

By D.F. Pendrys on February 15, 2009

By David F.P. (Scores from eyewitness account/and troester) [ Image Gallery ]

DURHAM, NH- The annual Fox Run Invitational draws a mix of New England teams and usually some rare teams up to New Hampshire, and this year was no different as the U.S. Air Force Academy made a rare trip east, and joining them were the Bridgeport Purple Knights who are having a stellar year, and the Yale Bulldogs who have been facing a shortage of competitors currently, but the core that remain are still putting up the scores and certainly seem to be having fun doing it.

The Yale Bulldogs were only able to field a full lineup on the Bars, due to injuries and illness, and on the other three events they only had four gymnasts competing. This did not stop Alina Liao from winning the all around with a score of 38.725, including a 9.8 on the Floor, and a 9.725 on the Beam. Lauren Tatsuno picked up a 9.75 on the Beam, 9.725 on the Floor, and a 9.6 on Vault. Allison Mak picked up four solid scores including 9.45’s on Vault and Bars. Sarah Hughes made another all around appearance including a 9.35 on Floor. Claude De Jocas and Margaret Greenberg continued to contribute on the Uneven Bars as well.

The Air Force Academy Falcons traveled far from their Colorado campus to visit the Wildcats. USAF is the lone service academy that still has a women’s gymnastics program. The cadets had four all arounders and a variety of event specialists. The team’s best scoring event was Floor. Brittany Dutton and Sammi Jones both put up 37.85s to lead their team and Jones had a team high 9.775 on the Floor, and Jones had the second best scores on Vault and Bars. Jenna Dudley had a 37.5 in the AA as well including a 9.75 on Floor. Fellow all around Abbey Rogers had the team’s best vault score of the day of 9.65. Aftan Boudreaux had the team’s best bars score of 9.65 and was part of the high scoring floor lineup with a 9.7.

The Purple Knights of Bridgeport put up a 189.4 to top Yale and the Falcons and constructed their scores from a variety of consistent performances continuing from week to week from their lineup. Floor was their top scoring event including Lorraine Galow’s 9.75 and Breanna Collins’ 9.7. Hannah Forti and Amanda Goodman led the team’s vault effort with 9.5s and Miranda Der, Katherine Reitz, and Jamie DePaola’s counted scores were close to that mark. Galow had a 9.525 on the Bars, and Forti, Shannon Cain, and Carissa Huggins, weren’t far behind. On the beam Emily Repko picked up a 9.725 to lead the knights, Caroline McAvity was second with a 9.6. Galow and Der both were above 37.5 in the All Around as well.

The host New Hampshire Wildcats rebounded from a lower score last week to score a 194.875 including two 48.925s on Bars and Floor. Taryn Lafountain and Diane Grey both had 9.9s on Floor and Bars respectively. On the Vault, Justine Turner anchored the rotation with a 9.825, and Katie Caliendo, Danielle Reibold, and Kelsey Alwin all scored 9.7 or better. Ali Carr’s 9.825 was good enough for second among her team, and Keeley Smith, Reibold, and Alwin all had 9.7 or above as well. On the Beam it was LaFountain’s 9.825 leading the way, Smith had a 9.775, Turner, and Reibold added counted scores above 9.7 as well. On the Floor, Smith’s 9.875 was 2nd among the ‘cats, and Andie Sablosky was 9.825 and third amongst the team, and Caliendo’s 9.775 was fourth.

Air Force Floor: