Saba, Blaskey and Wall lead unbeaten Chiefs
Massapequa's Kate Wall performs during a meet against Lawrence. (Jan. 31, 2011) Credit: Patrick E. McCarthy
Four gymnastics meets in six days, 16 events, countless warm-ups, and, as of Monday, two more teams to beat in order to get to the one figure that matters: zero.
This is math, Massapequa-style.
And when you're the Chiefs - a team looking for an undefeated season despite an impossibly cramped schedule - it's all about spreading around the workload and executing despite fatigue.
Massapequa (8-0), led by Brianna Saba, Kim Blaskey, Katie Wall and a slew of others, parlayed its well-balanced lineup into a 160.7-142.25 victory over Lawrence in Conference I. The meet marked the team's second in a four-match stretch that climaxes Tuesday against undefeated Plainview and culminates on Thursday against Hicksville.
Staying focused "mentally is the most important thing," said Saba, who notched an 8.9 on floor and an 8.2 on beam. "Physically, you don't want to be tired. You need to rest your body and get plenty of sleep and just focus a lot."
If Massapequa was feeling any ill effects from the tight schedule - the result of a number of snow postponements - it didn't show Monday.
Jessica Romano earned a meet-high 8.65 on bars, and Wall earned top all-around honors with a 32.85. Blaskey finished close behind with a 32.45.
The Chiefs notched a cumulative 42.4 on floor, led by Blaskey's dynamic routine. The junior nailed her double-somi pass - a whip back and a back tuck - to tie for first with a 9.0. Lawrence's Nicole Caporusso also earned a 9.0 in the event and added an 8.05 on vault. Lawrence finishes the season 2-7.
Wall said that while fatigue is a concern, "once you get going, there's that adrenaline rush" and today's meet against a strong Plainview team will be no exception.
"You're pumped," she said. "It's all or nothing."
