Tayla Quinn, Heidi Baldinger lead Massapequa in gymnastics meet
Heidi Baldinger of Massapequa performs her floor routine during a Nassau County gymnastics meet against Oceanside at McKenna Elementary School in Massapequa Park on Monday, Jan. 28, 2019. She scored a 9.2 in tne event. Credit: James Escher
If life were a movie equipped with background music, “The Final Countdown” by Europe would’ve been blaring in the gymnasium at McKenna Elementary School in Massapequa.
Tensions were palpable in the final rotation of the gymnastics meet between Oceanside and Massapequa Monday night.
Oceanside led by about one point after a strong performance on floor. The Sailors were moving on to beam, while Massapequa headed to the mat.
Both teams knew they needed peak performances to secure the win.
Massapequa let it rock on the floor. Led by Tayla Quinn and Heidi Baldinger, the Chiefs showed off, securing the win against Oceanside, 165.55-163.85, in Nassau I.
“Floor is our strongest event,” Quinn said. “I knew we had a chance of coming back and we pulled through. This season has been hard. We used what we learned from the past and left it all on the floor.”
Baldinger added, “We had a few minor setbacks in the beginning of the season but we brought it all together today. This is the highest score we’ve had this year. We had a good comeback this meet.”
Massapequa started the season off-tune, to their standards, scoring in the lower 160’s range. Their last meet was a close loss by 1.1 points against Port Washington.
The Chiefs knew if they wanted a top spot in the county, they would have to step it up.
“It’s been really hard keeping up with all the other teams this year,” Jenny Mullan said. “We’ve won counties in the past, so I think we can do it again. We can do anything we set our mind to.”
The Chiefs did that on floor.
Quinn placed first with a 9.3, her highest score on floor this season. Baldinger tied for first on vault with an 8.3 and tied for second with a 9.2. It was opposite for the All-Around. Baldinger was first with a 33.70 and Quinn was second with a 33.45.
“Our motto is to perform like we practice,” Quinn said. “We’ve been learning from our mistakes and pushing forward.”
Oceanside (7-2) pushed Massapequa (6-1) to the limit. Led by Lexi Kessler, Amanda Eidelman and Emme Ortiz, the Sailors weren’t going to let Massapequa win easily. Kessler placed third in the All-Around with a 33.35, tied for second on floor and tied for first on vault.
Both teams had a loss heading into the meet. The win gives Massapequa the number one spot in the county but that lead is extremely small. The competition in Nassau has been fierce and anyone can take the county crown.
If Massapequa’s final rotation is on floor, expect loud cheers and tangible confidence from the girls in blue and gold.
“It doesn’t always come down to skills,” Mullan said. “It comes down to positivity and teamwork. I feel like we have that more than any other team.”
Baldinger nodded and said, “It only goes up from here.”
