WESTFIELD – For the average high school gymnastics teams, the competition is often the toughest task to overcome. Not in the Whip City.
For more than a decade, Westfield has had to perform a balancing act of sorts. On one hand, the Bombers have tried to avoid complacency, while on the other, not becoming consumed with overconfidence, all while improving on the intricacies involved with becoming the very best gymnast possible.
So far this season, it is mission accomplished.
Westfild senior gymnasts share a fun moment Tuesday. Pictured from left to right are: Carly Thayer, Elizabeth Walker, Kendall Neidig, Gabriella Sibilia and Jenna Hines. (Photo by Bill Deren)
Westfield extended the region’s record all-time winning streak to 167-0 with a first-place finish Tuesday at home. The Bombers compiled a score of 133.775, defeating Minnechaug (130.95) and Agawam (122.35).
Senior gymnast Liz Walker paved the way for yet another Westfield victory. Walker took home top All-Around honors with an 8.85, finishing first on vault (8.85), uneven bars (8.825), and floor exercise (8.65). She also tied for second on the balance beam with an 8.35.
“After our first meet with a Minnechaug (a narrow victory), I thought it was going to be rough,” Westfield High School gymnastics head coach Bethany Liquori said.
“I’m still not confident that Minnechaug doesn’t have a shot,” she admitted. “We just seem to pull it together when we need to pull it together.”
Miranda Wozniak also proved to be a key contributor to Westfield’s success Tuesday. Wozniak placed second All-Around (8.35), fourth on bars (8.15), and tied for third on floor (8.45).
Other Westfield top three finishers included: Mairead Hagan (bars/2nd/8.55), Caity Daniels (beam/2nd/8.35), Avery Fargharson (vault/3rd/8.25; beam/3rd/8.2), and Carly Thayer (floor/T3rd/8.45).
“Our first meet, (our gymnasts) nailed it, although I don’t feel our scores reflected that,” coach Liquori said. “Nobody fell on the beam, no one fell on the bars. We fell tonight, but we pulled out some nice scores.”
Westfield will get two more chances to prepare for another championship run with a regular season meet on the road against Minnechaug and Hampshire at the Red Raiders’ home gymnasium, and an invitational competition.
BOYS’ SOCCER
Bombers capture league title
Westfield 5, Chicopee Comp 0
Ryan Prenosil scored two goals, and Sam Winiarski, Ryan Kennedy, and Jake Viamari each had one score in a key shutout victory to lock up the Moriarty Division league title for Westfield on senior night.
Bombers’ Brendon LaForest, Aidan Dunn, Dante White, and Vlad Burnusuz assisted.
Westfield goalie Ian Saltmarsh earned five saves en route to a shutout in net.
“We got the rewards from seniors that work really hard in training but don’t necessarily get to see the field too much with some quality minutes in a game that we needed to win, and they all performed very well,” Westfield coach Andrew Joseph said.
Millionaires shut out Rams
Lenox 2, Southwick 0
Lenox scored one goal in each half to down host Southwick. Rams’ goalie Nick Chambers made one save.
GIRLS’ SOCCER
PVC edges WTA
Pioneer Valley Christian 1, Westfield Technical Academy 0
Carmeon Belmer scored the game-winner in a narrow PVC victory.
GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL
Lions sweep Bombers
Ludlow def. Westfield, 25-21, 25-16, 25-18
McKenzie Chaban (8 kills), Carey Marshall (8 assists, 5 digs), and Kaitlyn Moran (4 aces) led Westfield.
JV BOYS’ SOCCER
Southwick 1, Lenox 1
Nate Girard scored for Southwick (9-2-4).
JV FIELD HOCKEY
Southwick 1, Holyoke 0
Seventh grader Sarah Hough scored the game-winner, and the Southwick Rams shut out visiting Holyoke.
