RallyNorth.net

SHREWSBURY —  Top-seeded Andover placed fourth at the state gymnastics meet.

The top four was Algonquin 143.700, Beverly 141.55, Chelmsford 141.525 and Andover 140.85. The Golden Warriors scored 143.55 points to win the North Sectional title but injuries slowed them a bit.

HUDSON — Third-seeded Andover flexed its muscles to capture the North Sectional Championship yesterday. The unbeaten Golden Warriors posted a 143.55 score, a season-best by 1.8 points. Coach Kristen Vadala said it was just off the school record of 143.8. They had to be on top of their game to hold off Beverly (141.575). “We totally had it in us,” said Vadala, the sixth-year Golden Warrior coach. “I think we have even more in us.” They hope to show it at the team state meet Saturday at Shrewsbury at 4 p.m. It was a case of Andover finally kicking the door down to earn its first North title since winning back to back crowns in 2000 and 2001. The Golden Warriors were the runner-up five times since (‘11, ‘09, ‘05, ‘04, ‘02). Andover got off to a terrific start. “We started on beam, the hardest event and we absolutely nailed it,” said Vadala. “For the first time all year, every kid in the lineup, 1-6, stuck it.” Dominique Cadet got the ball rolling with nary a wobble. Then Natalie Wagner, who had been out two weeks with an ankle injury, brought her A game. Emily Lowenstein wowed the judges with a back tuck, back tuck for her highest score of the year. Jenny Coneeny gritted her teeth through some intense pain and came through like a champion as did Courtney Carver (9.5) and Jessie Livingston (9.4). Next up was the floor and that was highlighted by Rachel Mandelbaum’s impressive routine despite just coming off the injured list. On vault, Lowenstein and Carver led the way. Tamra Rutfield needed to perform on bars as Cadet had hurt herself earlier. Rutfield delivered one of her highest scores of the year.

Andover's Emily Lowenstein placed third in the vault with a 9.225 at the individual state gymnastics meet yesterday. It was the junior's first time placing at the meet. Central Catholic's Jamie Maffeo placed fifth in the vault (9.1). In the all-around, Andover freshman Courtney Carver (35.85) placed eighth and sophomore Jessie Livingston (Andover) (35.775) placed ninth. Livingston didn't compete last year because she was recovering from a fractured back that almost ended her career about 17 months ago. Livingston, who stands at 4 foot 11, did physical therapy for more than a year. Andover senior Jenny Coneeny was named to the senior national team yesterday. A stress fracture in her back, however, kept her from competing. She had placed 10th in the all-around the past two years. North Andover's Jessica Whitehead took sixth in the floor with a 8.7. Central Catholic's Giana Contrada made the Massachusetts national team that will compete in Fort Myers, Fla. in May. For the boys, Methuen's Zach Smith placed second in the vault (9.625) while his teammate Cam Cyr placed sixth in the vault (9.35).

A season after a fractured back threatened to end her gymnastics career, Andover's Jessie Livingston won the all-around with a career-best 36.825 at the MVC Division 1 meet. The Golden Warriors placed second as a team.

Andover closed out its MVC gymnastics season with a bang, sweeping a tri-meet over previously unbeaten Chelmsford as well as Billerica to win the league title. Six Warrior athletes posted personal bests in the meet including all-around winner Courtney Carver (from 34.35 to 36.0) and Jesse Livingston in the vault (9.2 to 9.3).

Courtney Carver and Jesse Livingston led the way, finishing one-two in the all-around with scores of 35.8 and 35.7, as Andover remained unbeaten (8-0) in girls gymnastics, clipping Central Catholic 139.95 to 134.70. 

Andover sophomore Jessie Livingston had personal-best winning scores in the vault (9.25) and beam (9.4) as well as with her all-around score (36.8) 140-107.9.

Andover freshman Courtney Carver had a school-record 9.7 in the floor exercise to highlight the Warriors' 139-132 victory over Lowell. Jessie Livingston won two events for Andover (6-0) and was the all-around winner with a score of 36.30.

Sophomore Jessie Livingston continued her impressive comeback from a broken back, scoring at least a 9.0 in every event to lead unbeaten Andover to a 136.6-132.1 gymnastics win over Newton South. Livingston's 36.4 all-around was best in the meet.

Andover freshman Courtney Carver won her first event, the beam with a 9.15, as the unbeaten Warriors (3-0) beat Methuen 138-132. Jesse Livingston won the all-around with a 35.15 score.