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Published on 05/26/1999 All articles from this issue

Denied again

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By Pete Borello

Town Crier Staff Writer

St. Francis is CCS runner-up for 9th time

There's no shame in finishing second, but it sure can be frustrating.

Just ask the St. Francis High gymnastics team, which last week placed second at the Central Coast Section gymnastic championships for the seventh straight year.

"The team was very disappointed," said Nancy Kludt, who coaches the Lancers with Lynn Horiye. "There were a lot of tears."

This year's loss was the closest yet, as Gunn High edged St. Francis by less than one-tenth of a point: 174.625 to 174.550.

"Close but no cigar," Horiye said. "I guess I'm destined to finish second."

In Horiye's 13 years heading up the program, St. Francis has been the CCS runner-up nine times. The Lancers' last section title came in 1992.

Gunn, meanwhile, has now claimed six CCS championships in seven years. But this year's performance at San Jose State's Spartan Gymnasium wasn't among the Titans' finest, according to coach Jesse Hraban

"We didn't have our best meet, and I wasn't sure we were going to win until they announced it at the awards ceremony," Hraban said. "It was a wonderful surprise."

Gunn was led by Los Altos Hills resident She-Rene Chen, who finished fourth all-around with a score of 35.900. The senior won two events: the floor (9.6) and bars (9.525).

"Those were the best routines I've ever done," Chen said. "But I was disappointed with my vault and beam because I fell in both."

Chen wasn't the only Gunn competitor to fall. The Titans had three falls in their first event alone, the floor exercise.

"We usually don't have any falls on floor," Hraban said. "I think we were just a little nervous."

Gunn settled down after floor, according to Hraban, and wound up with four gymnasts among the top 10 all-around. Marsha Habib (35.000) placed fifth, Vanessa Mayle (35.200) seventh and Mari Inouye (34.625) ninth.

St. Francis also had three competitors land in the top 10. The Lancers' high scorer was sophomore Noreen Juliano (36.255), who finished a close second to San Mateo High's Stephanie Oakley (36.475).

St. Francis' Charlsie Tidwell (35.400) took seventh and teammate Tess Pinard (34.500) was 10th.

The Lancers posted the highest team scores in three of the four events: beam, floor and vault.

"It's very unusual to win three events and then place second," Kludt said. "Unfortunately, our uneven bars held us back this year."

St. Francis finished a distant second to Gunn in the bars, losing 44.825 to 42.250.

Los Altos High also took part in the CCS meet, placing fifth with an overall score of 153.325.

The Eagles' best all-around performer was freshman Sara Raassi (33.900), who came in 11th.