Debroczy beams with great all-around day

TEWKSBURY — Elizabeth Debroczy was the very first competitor up on balance beam at yesterday morning’s State Individual Gymnastics Championships, setting the tone for the day on the sport’s most harrowing apparatus.

“I could definitely feel the nerves,” the Algonquin freshman said. “I was able to control myself and finish off with a good score.”

Debroczy definitely set a positive tone for the meet, not only hitting beam, but clinching the all-around title with a 37.975 score at the meet sponsored by the Massachusetts High School Gymnastics Coaches at Tewksbury Memorial High School. Katelyn Aylwin of Masconomet/Lynnfield finished second with a 37.95, while Erin Hurley of Mansfield was in third with a 37.475.

Debroczy landing her back handspring-back layout-step out combination on her way to a 9.725 score on beam. She also hit her floor exercise routine for a 9.35.

“I actually wasn’t expecting that because everybody herehassomuchtalentand everyone’s had experience,” Debroczy said. “I wasn’t sure how it was going to go because you can’t always control if you have an off day. I was able to control my nerves and I was really excited.”

Aylwin, a senior who just joined the Masconomet/ Lynnfield co-op team this season, surprised herself with her second-place finish. Her hit Yurchenko layout vault earned her a big 9.7, putting her in second on the apparatus. She also placed third on uneven bars, where she felt she was in the zone.

“I think I stayed tight and I kept my nerves under control,” Aylwin said.

Hurley moved up from fifth last year to third place this year. The Hornets sophomore won the uneven bars with a 9.6 routine that included a pirouette overshoot.

“I thought I did pretty well today, especially because I had an ankle injury at the beginning of the season,” Hurley said. “It was good to get back out there today.”

Last year’s champion Gracy Mowers won both the floor exercise and vault titles on her way to a fourth-place finish with a score of 37.45. The Masconomet sophomore earned the highest score of the competition, a 9.8, with her Yurchenko layout half, which she landed with just a step forward.