Howdy all,

'Tis me, your trusty neighborhood gymnastics reporter, and I come bearing scores for the gymnastics state qualifier at Hicksville High School. It's a scrappy crew with a lot of young faces and a bunch of well-respected vets at the specialist positions.

All-Around 

Jordan Sack, Plainview JFK: 35.225

Serena Pergola, Bethpage: 34.825

Sarah Ciresi, Bethpage: 34.750

Also kicking butt, taking names (but missing the cut-off): 

Melissa Kropf, Plainview JFK: 34.6

Ali Bezalel, Hewlett: 34.45

Vault

Stephanie Jennings, Sewanhaka District: 8.925

Jessica Romano, Massapequa: 8.95

Kate Wall, Massapequa: 8.85

Also kicking butt, taking names (but missing the cut-off): 

Liz Giannatasio, Sewanhaka District: 8.75

Cheyenne Blumberg, Oceanside: 8.675

Bars

Erin Roach, Bethpage: 8.7

Cheyenne Blumberg, Oceanside: 8.675

Lauren Cecco, Hicksville: 8.65

Also kicking butt, taking names (but missing the cut-off): 

Ali Bezalel, Hewlett: 8.35

Lindsay Heney, Wantagh: 8.25

Beam

Melissa Kropf, Plainview JFK: 9.1

Stephanie Jennings, Sewanhaka District: 8.8

Ali Bezalel, Hewlett: 8.6

Also kicking butt, taking names (but missing the cut-off):

Lauren Cecco, Hicksville: 8.575

Jessica Romano, Massapequa: 8.525

Floor

Ali Bezalel, Hewlett: 9.2

Melissa Kropf, Plainview JFK: 9.075

Lindsay Heney, Wantagh: 9.050

Also kicking butt, taking names (but missing the cut-off):

Victoria Vitale, Plainview JFK: 9.0

Marisa Baccarella, Sewanhaka District: 8.85

Also, I wanna give a shout out to the non-club gymnasts who did well: Oceanside's Diarta Tolaj with an 8.225 on vault, Plainview's Danielle Rueda with a 7.55 on bars, North Shore's Talia Morales with an 8.05 on bars and Wantagh's Lauren O'Hara with an 8.575 on floor.

It was a bit of an uneven meet - a few thrills, a few spills and yes, a few tough breaks. Great job by those who made it, and for those who missed out, no worries. There's always next year. :) *

* Why yes, I DID just link a music video in my Newsday-sponsored gymnastics write-up and then followed it up with an emoticon. Such is the power of the Underblog.

Pfc. Raheen Tyson Heighter, of Bay Shore, was killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. His mother has made it her mission to aid active-duty service members, veterans, first responders and Gold Star families. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports. Credit: Randee Daddona; Photo credit: Cathy Heighter

'His sacrifice made a difference': Gold Star mother honors son's memory Army Pfc. Raheen Tyson Heighter, 22, of Bay Shore, was the first serviceman from Long Island killed in the Iraq War.

Pfc. Raheen Tyson Heighter, of Bay Shore, was killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. His mother has made it her mission to aid active-duty service members, veterans, first responders and Gold Star families. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports. Credit: Randee Daddona; Photo credit: Cathy Heighter

'His sacrifice made a difference': Gold Star mother honors son's memory Army Pfc. Raheen Tyson Heighter, 22, of Bay Shore, was the first serviceman from Long Island killed in the Iraq War.

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