The Londonderry High School Gymnastics team finished the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association’s State Championship with its highest score of the season, but were edged out of the top spots by some extremely tough competition.
The team’s highest individual finish on Saturday, Feb. 10, was fifth-place, on the Beam, and the team score wound up at 136.45, putting the Lancers at fifth overall, ten points behind the winners, Pinkerton Academy, at 146.6.
The Salem Blue Devils finished in second place, at 141.4, and the Bishop Guertin Cardinals took third-place with a score of 141.125.
Junior Lancer, Faith Carrier, had the highest placement for her team, scoring a 9.25 on the Beam and finished the year with a spot on the podium at fifth. Senior Lilly Haggett, junior Emma Nadeau, and senior Amanda Robinson also had strong performances in that event.
On Vault, junior Sophia Beauregard had a score of 9.05, go enough for 14th, Haggett placed 16th with a 9.0, freshman Gabby Nadeau tied for 18th with an 8.975, and sophomore Alex Pena placed 19th with an 8.95.
On the Bars, Londonderry’s highest finisher was sophomore Cailee Anderson, who placed 25th with a score of 7.9. The team also had solid routines from Pena and Robinson in that event.
On the Floor, Beauregard was once again LHS’s highest finisher and tied for 13th with a score of 9.3. Pena tied for 17th with her score of 9.25.
In All Around, Pena placed 17th with a 34.150 and Anderson placed 23rd with a 32.65.
Head coach, Heather Tuden, was happy with how the team stepped up despite injuries and illnesses, saying, “Every year I say this, every year, ‘All I can ask for is to do our best at states’ and once again we did that, by beating our best regular season score by two-points!”
Tuden added, “Sadly, the week prior to the meet, we had multiple girls come down with the stomach flu and two girls were unable to even travel to the meet. My two seniors, Amanda Robinson and Lilly Haggett, preformed beautifully!”
She had praise for her seniors, “Amanda worked hard all season to get new skills on bars and beam, which she hit all of those kills on her events. Her drive and dedication during practices and at meets will truly be missed next year. Lilly Haggett, who came back this year after a season ending back injury, was better than I had seen her the first two years she was on the team. Her devotion, skills and leadership on and off the mat will be a large hole we will need to fill next year.” “Emelyn Hayes was our third senior and sadly was unable to compete at states. She was part of the team her freshman year and was able to make it back to the team senior year. Emelyn always has a smile on her face and was someone the girls could always talk to on the team.”
She wished her seniors well, saying, “Lilly, Amanda, and Emelyn we will all miss you and wish you luck in the next chapter in your lives.”