Lancers win sixth CCS meet in a row
 photo courtesy of Nancy Kludt St. Francis High junior Linda Lund won the all-around title at last week’s CCS meet with a career-high score of 39.05. Lund’s performance helped the Lancers win the CCS championship. |
Demonstrating grace under pressure, the St. Francis High gymnastics team last Friday earned an unprecedented sixth consecutive CCS crown.
St. Francis, Los Altos, Gunn, Aragon, Lowell and San Mateo highs qualified for the CCS meet at Twisters Gym in Mountain View based on their performances in the SCVAL North or South divisions. Aragon entered as the North champ with a team score of 186.300, on target to be South champ St. Francis’ closest competitor.
Aragon drew the coveted position of starting with vault, while St. Francis faced the challenge of competing on balance beam as its final event.
“A championship title, because of the potential to fall, can be won or lost on the balance beam,” said Lancer beam coach Nancy Kludt.
True to form, St. Francis stayed focused, worked precise routines and earned the highest team total and four of the top 10 places on beam. The Lancers topped the podium on all events, finishing with a new CCS record of 189.675 to second-place Aragon’s 183.800 and Gunn’s third-place finish of 178.025. Rounding out the field were teams from San Mateo (fourth, 173.950), Lowell (fifth, 163.800) and Los Altos (sixth, 136.225).
“We have gone undefeated in any competition for six-straight seasons, but we were aware that Aragon had taken aim at us with a hugely talented squad. That helped to keep us on our toes,” Kludt said. “That and our team goal to break Gunn’s record of five consecutive CCS titles won between 1995 and 1999.”
The surprise of the evening was St. Francis junior Linda Lund’s winning the all-around title. Setting a CCS record of her own, Lund topped the field with a career-high 39.05. Lund grabbed gold on vault (9.70), earned second on bars (9.775), third on floor (9.700) and sixth on beam (9.700).
“Linda’s individual win was icing on the cake,” Kludt said. “She came into CCS tied for fifth overall after the league championships. All-around awards are presented after individual events. As each event was announced I was getting more and more excited. I knew Linda had a shot at the title. When the second-place gymnast was called, we all got goose-bumps.”
Showing impressive skill and concentration, Lund - who won the South Division finals with a 38.00 - improved a full point in just one week.
Kludt credits co-captains Alysse Zrebski and Angie Martin de Bustamante as big factors in the Lancer victory.
“Lancer head coach Lynn Horiye and I tried something unique this year,” Kludt said. “We asked Zrebski and Martin de Bustamante to focus on setting our competitive lineups and finding ways to unify our predominantly underclass squad with their veteran teammates. Sophomore Sara Silano took on the role of choreographer on floor exercise and balance beam for several of our freshman. Her routines were wonderfully innovative, paving the way for all Lancer floor competitors to earn individual berths at CCS. This was truly the gymnasts’ team this year.”
Gunn gymnasts earned individual gold in two events: sophomore Katlyn Reyes on floor (9.875) and freshman Miranda Der on beam (9.90). Reyes (38.825), the 2004 CCS champ, placed second all-around and Der took third (38.625). Alice Kao of San Mateo placed fourth (38.600) and Aragon junior Brittany Grasberger was fifth (38.525).
Standouts from Los Altos included senior Jenna Yamaguma and sophomore Avery Gee, who tied for the bronze medal on balance beam with scores of 9.75. Gee finished sixth overall with a 38.00.
“The talent field was incredible this year.” Kludt said. “This is the first time that every gymnast in the top six at CCS scored a 38.00 and above.”
