Crasa leads Suffolk gymnastics at states

For her first trip to the state gymnastics tournament, Cydney Crasa's contributions to the Suffolk state team fall comfortably of the category of "not too shabby."

The Walt Whitman seventh-grader took second place in the all-around with a 37.225 and helped lead Suffolk to its second third-place finish in two years yesterday at Shaker High School in Albany.

Suffolk finished with a 181.375, while Section I took first with a 182.975. Nassau placed eighth with a 166.325. Section I's Taylor Redmond took first in the all-around with a 38.225.

"I feel really good about it," said Crasa, who took first on floor exercise with a 9.575. "We knew we could do it and carry on that tradition of excellence. I can't wait till next year."

It's hard to blame her; Crasa shined with a 9.475 for second place on vault, while notching a 9.27 and an 8.9 on beam and bars.

And, while Crasa's accomplishments were a nod to a sport that favors youth, Commack veteran Alyssa Burns made good on her years of tournament experience. Burns, a senior in her final high school meet, finished sixth all-around with a 36.3 and took fourth on bars with a 9.375 and fifth on beam with a 9.325. Smithtown's Sarah Peters finished sixth on beam with a 9.3 while Bay Shore's Olivia O'Connor took third on bars with a 9.475.

As for Nassau. resurgence will be the name of the game next year. "We're very young," coach Kim Rhatigan said. "But this is the future of Nassau gymnastics."