Clarkstown completed a second straight unbeaten season by winning its second straight Section 1 gymnastics title Thursday at Carmel High School.
Clarkstown scored 170.2 to top runner-up Wappingers, which scored 166.375.
"It's the best feeling in the world," Clarkstown senior Olivia Blachno said. "The best way to end the season. That was my goal coming in."
The difference was a solid performance on the balance beam as Clarkstown's lowest score in the event was 8.0
"We did the best routines we could," Clarkstown freshman Shannon Berrigan said. "Beam was important because sometimes it can be a little shaky but we all did great routines."
The meet was also noteworthy for those who couldn't compete.
Defending all-around champion Alexa Calandra of Suffern had her petition to compete denied by Section 1, which ruled she failed to compete in the required number of meets.
The Brewster team's petition to compete was also denied by Section 1, which failed to compete in the section-mandated six meets. The Bears were scheduled to have their sixth meet against Carmel on Jan. 17, but the school district canceled activities that day to allow students to attend the wake of Michael Graham, an eighth-grader who died of a self-inflicted gunshot. Many on the team were Graham's classmates.
Wappingers' Alexis Mena won the all-around title for the first time with a score of 37.475. Mena becomes the first gymnast from Dutchess County to win the title in almost 10 years. Mena won the uneven bar title.
Berrigan took second with a score of 37.075.
"I'm pretty excited," Berrigan said. "I'm happy with the results of this season because I didn't expect to be doing this well. I'm happy to be going back for the third year."
There were some firsts for the girls from Nyack.
Seventh-grader Cassie Wishner took third with a score of 36.825, giving Nyack its first all-around medal at a Section 1 championship.
"I think it went very well," Wishner said. "I'm happy and very proud of myself. I'm going to practice hard for the next few weeks before states."
Teammate Amara Cunningham won the floor exercise and vault titles giving Nyack its first event titles at a Section 1 championship.
Berrigan won the balance beam title.
Mena, Berrigan, and Wishner will headline the 15-member Section 1 state team that will compete March 2 at Smithtown East High School at the state championships beginning at 10 a.m.
Joining Mena, Berrigan, and Wishner on the state team are: Edgemont's Isabella Puig; Somers' Margaux Neborak; Eastchester's Debbie Musselman; Pelham's Taylor Sansone; Lakeland/Panas' Leanne Castelli; Nyack's Cunningham; Mahopac's Ashlee Belkevich, Melissa King; Carmel's Brittani Muccio; Tappan Zee's Shannin Lucas and Kaylie McGivney; and Clarkstown's Blachno.
"Floor was definitely the highlight," Lucas said. "I'm still proud of myself. That was my goal, to make it to state on the floor (exercise)."
Neborak becomes the second girl from Somers to make the state team. Former Tuskers standout Stephanie Lombardo was the first.
"I'm so excited," Neborak said. "It's the event I wanted to make. I wasn't sure that I did enough."
