Woodstock Academy wins title, Warde second
MILFORD — Woodstock Academy won its 11th consecutive gymnastics state title at the Class M championship at Jonathan Law on Saturday.
Coach Kasey Tocchio’s Centaurs scored a 140.30. Fairfield Warde (136.375) was second and HaddamKillingworth/Morgan/Westbrook (132.70) third.
Moving up a division didn’t deter Woodstock Academy, which had won eight straight Class S titles. It also won Class M in 2011 and 2012.
“We always have a tight-knit group,” said Tocchio of her team’s success. “Each girl is important. We don’t talk about winning this meet or that meet. We do the best we can do every time.”
Woodstock Academy’s firstplace scoring on vault (35.625) and floor exercise (34.625) played a large role in defeating the FCIAC champions from Warde. Taylor Markley (9.6), Lindsay Gilles (8.925) and Olivia Aleman (8.875) led in vault. Markley (9.475) and Aleman (9.375) were first and second on floor.
Markley, a junior captain, posted a 9.6 on uneven bars and 9.7 on balance beam.
“We’ve gotten better as the season has gone on,” said Markey, who had posted an all-around
score of 37.9 to lead her team to its 12th straight ECC title. “We have a great bond and count on each other.”
The State Open is March 5 in New Milford.
Woodstock Academy won Open titles from 2012-2017. Greenwich took first in 2018 and Southington in 2020. The Centaurs were second both seasons.
Warde was led by Emma Johnson,
who had the second-best score on vault (9.325), beam (9.650) and third best on floor (9.0), and Caroline Garrett, third on bars (8.75) and fifth on floor (8.95).
Juliana Gagliardi paced H-K/ Morgan/Westbrook. She took third in vault (9.175) and fourth in floor exercise (9.0). Megan Cafferty scored a 9.0 on vault.
New Milford won Class M in 2020.
There are no all-around scores kept at state meets.
Class M Championship
Team results: 1. Woodstock Academy, 140.30; 2. Fairfield Warde, 136.375; 3. H-K/Morgan/Westbrook, 132.70, 122.45; 4. New Milford, 125.55; 5. Wilton, 122.375
Vault: 1. Taylor Markey (Woodstock Academy), 9.6; 2. Emma Johnson (Warde), 9.325; 3. Juliana Gagliardi (H-K/Morgan/Westbrook), 9.175; 4. Megan Flaherty
(H-K/Morgan/Westbrook), 9.0; 5. Lindsay Gilles (Woodstock Academy), 8.925
Uneven Bars: 1. Taylor Markey (Woodstock Academy), 9.6; 2. Olivia Aleman (Woodstock Academy), 8.85; 3. Caroline Garrett (Warde), 8.75; 4. Emma Johnson (Warde), 8.65; 5. Lindsay Gilles (Woodstock Academy), 8.55
Balance Beam: 1. Taylor Markey (Woodstock Academy), 9.7; 2. Emma Johnson (Warde), 9.65; 3. Olivia Aleman (Woodstock Academy), 8.95; 4. Regan Williams (New Milford), 8.9; 5. Juliana Gagliardi (H-K/ Morgan/Westbrook), 8.8
Floor Exercise: 1. Taylor Markey (Woodstock Academy), 9.475; 2. Olivia Aleman (Woodstock Academy), 9.375; 3. Emma Johnson (Warde), 9.05; 4. Juliana Gagliardi (H-K/Morgan/Westbrook); 9.0; 5. Caroline Garrett (Warde); 8.95