Browse archives: 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995

Published on 05/12/1997 All articles from this issue

Lancers in step with the best

printer friendly version

By Andy Nystrom

Town Crier Staff Writer

St. Francis gymnastics

Lynn Horiye feels he's got the best St. Francis High gymnastics squad in his 11 years at the helm of the program. The Lancer coach also contends that four-time defending Central Coast Section champion Gunn boasts its strongest team in recent memory.

Which means that St. Francis - runner up to Gunn the last four years - will probably have its usual tough time overtaking the Titans for the section title on May 20 at San Jose State University. And the Lancer girls, 7-1 overall heading into this weekend's Santa Clara Valley Athletic League championships, are set for the CCS challenge, Horiye said.

St. Francis' main CCS goals are to surpass last year's team score of 172.8 and come fully prepared for the meet.

"They need to be mentally confident that they can do it (succeed)," Horiye said while surveying his gymnasts at practice last week. "Just try to hit the landings and make it look good."

Putting in some unforgettable performances this season is St. Francis freshman Kelly Lawton, who has won several all-around competitions and has produced a high score of 35.9. Her latest all-around victory was in the Lancers' win over Cupertino and Monta Vista last Wednesday to finish league competition with a 4-0 record.

"She's quiet and humble. After her first meet, I knew she was going to be a dynamo," Horiye said of Lawton, a bars, beam and floor specialist. "After seeing Kelly, other coaches have said, 'You know, my seniors and juniors are not used to losing.' "

Also impressing the competition this season are senior leaders Lisa Juco and Christa Lewis, juniors Nikki Vesanovic and Cheryl Juliano and sophomore Charlsie Tidwell. High scores for the gymnasts this season are: Juco, 9.3 floor; Vesanovic, 9.5 floor; Juliano, 9.2 beam; and Tidwell, 8.8s and 8.9s on all events.

Coach Horiye noted that Juco has an edge over the competition with four years of varsity experience; Vesanovic is a great competitor who tied for first on the floor at CCS last year; Juliano is fun to watch; and Tidwell is the team's most consistent and improved gymnast.

Teamwise, St. Francis notched its best score of 174.3 over Los Altos, and lost its only meet to Gunn by a close 175-171 score.

Along with experience and talented gymnasts, Horiye said that the St. Francis girls' friendships translate into success.

"Last year we were like a family, and the family stayed together. The team spirit makes us work hard together. It's a great feeling," he said.

And look for St. Francis to be a force in the SCVAL and CCS in the future as well, as the junior varsity team is 5-1 behind freshmen Ashley Retuta and Caitlin Bligh.

Lancer Kelly Lawton takes control on the floor last week.

34B