Greco's all-around leads Kings Park

The bar is raised when Tara Greco performs.

No, really, it's raised. It takes a number of adjustments before Greco takes on the uneven bars - they're hiked up a few inches, the springboard is repositioned and, when she finally takes flight, three girls move the mats around like a synchronized NASCAR pit crew.

Monday, as Kings Park (7-0) defeated Half Hollow Hills, 166.15-163.05, to seal up an undefeated regular season in League I, that bar routine was her worst mark of the night. Which means to say it was still very, very good.

Greco, a senior, posted a 35.725 all-around - a 9.20 on floor, a 9.125 on vault, a 9.15 on beam, and 8.25 on bars, as Kings Park wound down the season and geared up for the Suffolk team championship next Tuesday.

"We're feeling confident," Greco said. "We can't just give up now, though. We're going to keep our heads up."

Though Kings Park is undefeated, the competition this year seems stiffer than usual, with the resurgence of Smithtown (6-1) as a gymnastics powerhouse, as well as defending champ Commack to deal with.

For Greco, yesterday's meet and next Tuesday's will take on special significance, as they mark her final times competing for a school team. She plans to give up gymnastics in college and dedicate herself to track.

"It's a little sad," she said. "After all this, I'm done."

Kings Park has gotten its money worth. After falling short of the title last year, the Kingsmen, led by Greco, came out strong and have won by at least three points in the last five meets.

That streak was in jeopardy early on, though. Kings Park trailed Hills by 0.75 at the break thanks to strong performances by Hills' Dana Passos and Danielle Stansky. Passos' Tsuk vault was good for an 8.9, and Stansky won bars with an 8.65.

And, though populated with vets such as Greco and fellow seniors Kaitlyn Finnin and Tessa Barkan, it was junior Marissa Moss' beam routine that provided the extra boost. Moss notched an 8.75 out of the five-slot and an 8.90 on floor to help Kings Park regroup. She also proved to be a more-than-capable table-setter for Greco.

Greco's beam routine, which included two back handsprings and a front full dismount, won the event with a 9.15 and gave Kings Park the lead for good. Nikki Maddie came in second with an 8.90 for Hills.

"She's very consistent," said coach Robin Thomas, who's known Greco since she was 18 months old. "She's been there."

Consistent is right. Greco has been the go-to girl for big scores, and the same is expected next Tuesday and at the individual state qualifier the following Friday.

It's a lot, but at this point, Greco is used to the pressure of a good old-fashioned bar raising.