South Side seeks big finish

South Side coach Cheryl Scalice said the decision to divide Nassau County’s gymnastics teams into three conferences from the traditional two has created a lot of excitement.

“Every match is ridiculously close,” Scalice said after the Lady Cyclones lost at Oceanside on Jan. 23, 147.45 to 137.95, less than a week following a narrow victory over the Lady Sailors. “That’s the way it should be when you create conferences based on ability,” she added. “Just about every meet, the girls have gathered around at the end waiting for the final score to be posted. That would happen only once in a while in previous years.”

South Side’s record dipped to 6-3 with the defeat, and its average score of 137.25 has it in contention to be one of Nassau’s eight teams that will compete in the county championships Feb. 5 at Long Beach. “We just missed last season and we’re on the bubble to get there,” Scalice said. “About five teams’ averages are within a point of each other.”

Scalice is carrying a roster of 17, including eight freshmen and two seventh-graders, and attributes some of the increased interest in the sport to the Olympics. “Every Olympic cycle sparks interest in gymnastics,” she said. “I was concerned about our program because we graduated five seniors last season and have six seniors now, but to have all these young girls competing is great.”

One of the freshmen, Bridget Considine, is leading South Side in all four events in her second year with the team. She’s on the cusp of reaching the state qualifier mark (8.1) in vault, averaging 8.08, and is scoring consistently well in floor exercise (8.22 avg.), balance beam (7.72), and uneven bars (5.87.) “She’s already a leader because of her attitude,” Scalice said of Considine, who posted an 8.5 floor routine on Jan. 17. “She’s a fierce competitor and so focused. She’s made great strides in every event since last season.”

Senior captain Ellen Buchner, in her sixth season with the Lady Cyclones, ranks second on the team in all four events. Buchner reached the state qualifying score for vault last season, Scalice said, and she’s upped her averages on beam (7.6) and bars (5.65) this season to go along with an already strong vault and floor exercise.

Senior captain Holly Levenstein, a state qualifier on beam last winter, has started in all four events at one point, Scalice said, and been a key contributor to the team’s success. The same goes for senior captain Erin Chiffriller, who has overcome a knee injury to thrive on vault, bars and beam. Senior Molly Reichert has put up big numbers on beam and become a quick learner on vault, while the pending return of seniors Nicole Tinghitella and Cathryn Weiss from injuries will only boost South Side’s chances of reaching the county meet.

“The girls will keep pushing to reach their goals,” Scalice said. “They’re working hard.”