The Kenston Bombers, the 2021 OHSAA state runners-up, began their 2022 post season Feb. 11 at the WRC Conference Championship Meet.
Meet photos click here.
The Kenston Bombers, the 2021 OHSAA state runners-up, began their 2022 post season Feb. 11 at the WRC Conference Championship Meet.
Focused and determined, the Bombers finished first in each event and won the WRC conference championship title.
In addition, Head Kenston Varsity Gymnastics Coach Nicole Martorello was named the WRC coach of the year.
“I think it went really well,” said Martorello. “Northeast Ohio has a lot of really good gymnasts. So we’re just happy that we can compete with some of the best, and be able to come out on top.
“We had a lot of highs. We had four nines on vault. We hit all our beam routines. The girls really showed it off on floor. I think we’re heating up and we’re getting ready for the post-season and sectionals. So I think this was a good meet to start us off.”
Individually and as a team, the Kenston gymnasts had an incredible WRC conference championship.
On vault, Kenston was led by Presley Gabram, who finished first. Also earning medalist honors for Kenston on vault were Claire Roch and Mary Cowan.
Coach Martorello emphasized that Kenston’s performance on vault was a highlight of the meet.
“We counted four nines in our team score on vault, so I think that was really great,” she said.
On the uneven parallel bars, Mary Cowan took first place, while Roch and Gabram took second and third respectively.
Presley Gabram won her second individual event of the night by taking first on the balance beam, while Cowan finished second and Roch finished third.
Martorello was very happy with Kenston’s performance on the balance beam.
“We stuck all of our beam routines,” said Martorello. “Every girl stayed on the beam, so that was a highlight of our night.”
Mary Cowan won her second individual event of the championship by taking first on the floor exercise, while Gabram finished second and Nikki Nelson finished third.
“The girls always have really good on energy on floor, they get excited, and they show off their routines,” Martorello said.
Winning the all-around WRC conference championship title was Kenston’s Mary Cowan.
“Today’s meet went really well,” said senior Kenston gymnast Presley Gabram. “We all did our best and we had our full lineup here today, so that was really exciting. And I’m just looking forward to what’s going to come of the season. Because it’s our senior year, our last year, we want to make it memorable.”
In addition to the Bombers finishing first, the Chardon Hilltoppers finished second overall in the WRC. Chardon was led by Molly Hamulak, who finished seventh, and Abigail Whitehead who finished eighth all around for the championship.
Kenston and Chardon, along with Geauga County gymnasts from NDCL and West Geauga, compete next at the OHSAA sectionals Feb. 20 at Hudson High School.
Kenston’s gymnasts have a goal of returning to the OHSAA State Championships.
“The goal is to go to states and get 147,” said senior Regan Chamberlin.
Added senior Presley Gabram, “Yes, that’s our goal score for the season.”
