Published January 23, 2020
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
BEVERLY — The Danvers-North Reading High co-op gymnastics team improved to 2-1 on Jan. 16 as they defeated host Beverly, 136.85-132.0, at the Beverly Y.
Allie Taylor led the way, coming in first place in the all-around with a total score of 35.5 in the four events.
The North Reading sophomore was first in the floor exercise (9.3), beam (9.1) and vault (9.1).
The Falcons came in first in all four events as Danvers senior Jess Mandri won on the bars with a score of 8.6. Mandri was third in both the vault (8.9) and on the floor (9.0).
Mandri, the team’s captain, was second in the all-around with a 34.9.
Junior Aria Serino of Danvers was third in two events, the bars (8.4) and the beam (8.55).
“We were proud of the way the girls competed,” said Falcons head coach Jen Habeeb. “We worked hard in practice this week and it really showed in the way we performed. Our goal is to keep increasing our team and individual scores each week and we did just that against Beverly. Jess also came back from a minor injury this meet which really helped our team score. Last week she only competed in two event for us. This week we had her back on all four events.”
In the season opener back on Jan. 11, the Falcons split a tri-meet. They beat Essex Tech, 132.1-131.25, but lost to the defending state champions Masconomet which scored 149.2.
Taylor tied for third place in the all-around with a 35.9. She placed third on the balance beam with a 9.0 and tied for third on the vault with a 9.2.
“For that first meet of the season, we did great and we were happy with the results,” said Habeeb.
On Jan. 26, the Falcons will host Bishop Fenwick at 11 a.m. at Yellow Jackets in Middleton.
