WOODSTOCK, Conn. — Being a freshman in big competitions is no problem for Andover’s Paige Bukowski.
She proved that again Saturday at the New England Meet at Woodstock Academy when she finished first in the floor exercise with a school-record score of 9.85. She also finished first in the vault with a score of 9.55, which is close to her own school record.
On the floor exercise, Bukowski had scores from the two judges of 9.9 and 9.8. According to Andover coach Jimmy Tomacchio, that’s the first time an Andover gymnast has ever scored a 9.9.
Bukowski competed in the morning session and then had to nervously await the results of the afternoon session.
In the final floor round of the day, there were scores of 9.80 and 9.75 — not quite good enough to catch the Andover freshman.
The performance in the floor completed quite a week for Bukowski. Just six days earlier, she won the Mass. State All-Around title with a terrific score of 37.725 while also setting a school record while finishing first in the beam with a 9.725 and taking the floor with a 9.5.
Overall, Bukowski, who trains with Brestyan’s in Burlington, had a remarkable season. She missed gymnastics competition for most of her eighth grade year with a back injury and she did not have high expectations to start the year.
Bukowski was the only local gymnast to place Saturday. Host Woodstock Academy won the team championship.
Read More »
Girls Gymnastics, 03/11/17 » 0 Comments & 0.0 Stars
HUDSON — Paige Bukowski "has a tiny body but the heart of a champion."
That's how her coach, Tracy Vadala West, described the dynamic 5-foot Andover freshman who stole the show at the state championships.
Bukowski won the all-around with a 37.725 as well as the beam and the floor (new school record 9.725).
"She had a wonderful meet," said Vadala West. "She's great to watch, very clean and very confident."
She led Andover to a fourth-place finish among the eight qualifying teams. Central took sixth in the meet which was won by Bridgewater-Raynham. Only athletes from those eight schools competed.
Central Catholic's Keara Loughlin took fifth in the all-around while Andover's Kaitlyn McDonald was 11th and Central's Nancy Sullivan 15th.
Vadala West said Bukowski and McDonald are quite the 1-2 punch.
"Her and Kaitlyn are great together," said the coach. "They cheer each other on. It's really great to see especially with one a freshman and one a senior."
Next up for Bukowski is the New Englands Saturday in Woodstock, Conn.
Read More »
Girls Gymnastics, 03/04/17 » 0 Comments & 0.0 Stars
HUDSON — Andover freshman Paige Bukowski enjoyed a career day at the North Sectional meet, setting school records in the vault and the floor to earn the all-around title while leading the Golden Warriors to the North Sectional gymnastics championship.
Andover edged out Central Catholic by the slimmest of margins, taking first with 142.475 points compared to Central Catholic’s 141.925. Bukowski and Central’s Keara Loughlin were the top performers of the day, with Bukowski winning the vault (9.675), beam (9.55) and floor (9.75) while Loughlin won the bars (9.25) and took second in the vault (9.45) and beam (9.4).
Andover also got a terrific showing from senior Kaitlyn McDonald, who tied Loughlin for second in the beam (9.4) and placed third in the bars (9.1). The three gymnasts took the top three spots in the all-around as a result, with Bukowski tallying 37.775, Loughlin 37.4 and McDonald 37.0.
Following the meet, Andover coach Tracy West said she was thrilled with her team’s performance and said it was great to have such a competitive meet with Central. The Raiders previously got the better of Andover in the league meet, and now after a close meet at Sectionals she expects they’ll battle it out again at states next weekend.
Both teams should be among the favorites to advance to New Englands after next week’s state meet. The top three teams at states will advance to New Englands, which will be held at Woodstock Academy in Connecticut. Bukowski has already qualified individually, but West said their goal is for the rest of the team to make it as well.
North Sectionals
Team scores: 1. Andover 142.475, 2. Central Catholic 141.925
Area placers:
Vault: 1. Paige Bukowski (A) 9.675, 2. Keara Loughlin (CC) 9.45; Bars: 1. Loughlin (CC) 9.25, 3. Kaitlyn McDonald (A) 9.1; Beam: 1. Bukowski (A) 9.55, 2. Loughlin (CC) 9.4, 2. McDonald (A) 9.4; Floor: 1. Bukowski (A) 9.75, 4. Loughlin (CC) 9.3; All-around: 1. Bukowski (A) 37.775, 2. Loughlin (CC) 37.4, 3. McDonald (A) 37.0
Read More »
Girls Gymnastics, 02/26/17 » 0 Comments & 0.0 Stars
Freshman Paige Bukowski tied the Andover school record in the floor routine with a 9.7, edging out teammate Kaitlyn McDonald for first place in the event. McDonald won the all-around with a score of 37.0, followed by Maddie Quill (34.25) and Haverhill's Alex Auguste (32.2).
Read More »
Girls Gymnastics, 02/01/17 » 0 Comments & 0.0 Stars
They don't come much closer than this. Central Catholic girls gymnastics nipped Andover 142.10-142.05 Thursday night. That's right, the Raiders only won by .05 of a point. Central's Keara Loughlin took the all-around with a 37.85, followed closely by Andover's Kaitlyn McDonald (37.10) and Paige Bukowski (36.30).
Read More »
Girls Gymnastics, 01/26/17 » 0 Comments & 0.0 Stars
Paige Zukowski continued her tremendous freshman year by winning the vault (9.45), beam (9.4), floor (9.4) and all-around (36.85) as Andover beat Tewksbury 140.85-122.3.
Read More »
Girls Gymnastics, 12/22/16 » 0 Comments & 0.0 Stars
