THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, February 20, 1996 TAG: 9602200399
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NEWPORT NEWS LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
Since the Eastern Region gymnastics tournament began in 1974, the Beach District has been so dominating that it owns all but one team title.
In Monday's competition at Warwick High, it was the status quo as the Beach took both state qualifying team spots, four of the five all-around berths and all four individual titles.
In fact, only three gymnasts from the Southeastern and Peninsula district combined managed to qualify for Friday and Saturday's Group AAA state meet at Reston's South Lakes High in Northern Virginia.
This year's region meet had been postponed from Saturday because of snow, but the delay failed to chill the high-flying skills of the Beach's elite.
Cox won its seventh title in defending last year's region crown with a meet-record 146.7 total points. Kellam finished second with 146.15. The nearest competitor in the six-team field was nearly 10 points out of second.
Kellam's Brooke Sawyer took top all-around honors with 38.15 overall points, just missing her personal best of 38.2. Teammate Michelle Alexander, defending region champ who finished second in the state last year, was second with 37.45.
A pair of Salem gymnasts came through with outstanding efforts - Meria Eisenbruan tying for third with Menchville's Pam Brinker at 37.15 and Davinia Roberts taking fifth with 37.
In year's past, 35 total all-around points would have been enough to advance to the state meet, but the Virginia High School League increased the number to 36.95. Had the standard remained at 35, the region would have sent 16 all-arounds to state.
Sawyer continued her quest for a state title after sitting out last year's postseason with an injury by taking individual titles on the balance beam, on floor and in vaulting.
First Colonial's Susan Funk secured the other individual title for the Beach, winning on uneven bars.
Deep Creek hopeful Melissa Suter was to be the Beach's only real threat, but had to scratch from three events after damaging her right ankle in a U.S. Gymnastics Federation regional meet Sunday. She competed on uneven bars and qualified for state with a 9.4, but likely caused more damage on her dismount landing.
``I decided to try bars because I didn't think it would hurt that bad,'' the Hornets' freshman said. ``But it hurt when I landed. I'm supposed to go to the doctor's tonight, but this is all pretty upsetting.''
While Suter was icing down her ankle, another tight duel between Cox and Kellam was shaping up.
The Beach champion Knights, who won the state title two year's ago, took a 73.85-73.6 lead after rotations on floor and balance beam. But a fantastic session in vaulting put Cox up 109.8-109.35.
``We were just very solid tonight,'' Falcons coach Melody Hartranft said. ``We were just very consistent.''
Cox went first on the last rotation, uneven bars, and came through with 36.8 points - leaving Kellam needing 37.35 to tie. The Knights, however, could only muster a 36.75. by CNB