SALEM – As athletes representing Manchester Memorial at this year’s NHIAA Girls Gymnastics State Championship meet, Amanda Campbell and Stephanie Day displayed two distinct types of competitiveness at the meet on Saturday, Feb. 10.

After performing in all four events, Campbell walked away frustrated, quiet and not quite ready to listen to her coach’s words of encouragement.

“I’m usually better on floor and vault,” said an upset Campbell. “Those are awful scores. I wanted to be in the top six in those events, but I put too much pressure on myself, and it backfired.”

Day, though, remained calm after receiving scores in her three events. Though she fell once during her balance beam routine, the junior from Auburn simply smiled and said she isn’t that competitive.

Joining these polar-opposite Crusaders were the girls of Central, who brought another gymnast recognized for her competitive nature. Nicole Simoneau repeated as the individual state champion, finishing with 36.600 points in the all-around. Entering the meet as the favorite, Simoneau placed second on the bars with 9.050 points, sixth on balance beam with 8.825 points, first on floor exercise with 9.350 points and first on vault with 9.375 points.

Day called Simoneau “a competitor who’s so nice and humble about it,” saying the Central gymnast holds her accomplishments dear but makes herself approachable.

Manchester head coach Meg Norklun, who leads the three public school Queen City teams, said Campbell and Day’s disparate reactions to their performances is one of her favorite aspects of coaching high school teams.

“It’s nice because you can find girls who are one way and some who are the other,” said Norklun. “You get to see various levels and personalities, and it’s a bit of a nice challenge to try and blend it all together into one team.”

Simoneau led Central to a third-place finish with 131.325 points.

Chelsie Gilbert scored 8.250 on the vault and 7.700 on the beam; Sarah Conley scored 8.100 on the vault, 6.400 on the bars and 8.075 on the floor exercise; and Ansley Smith finished with 8.650 on the vault, 8.200 on the beam and 9.075 on the floor exercise.

Rounding out Central’s scoring were Bonnie Duval, who scored 6.800 on the bars, and Grace Fitzgerald, who finished with 7.225 on the bars, 7.900 on the balance beam and 8.350 on the floor exercise.

Despite Campbell’s frustration after recording an 8.725 on the floor exercise and 8.350 on the vault, she admitted the feeling wouldn’t last too long.

“I’m really competitive, but I’ll let it go later today,” said Campbell. “It’s funny because some of us are like me, and some are like Steph and are totally laid-back no matter how they do. It just depends. It’s cool to see the dynamic, though.”

Results

For Memorial, Campbell finished 21st overall with 33.325 points; Day scored 23.525 points. Stephanie Dollard of Auburn finished with 15.850 points.

For Central, Smith placed 29th with 31.925 points; Conley posted 22.575 points; Molly Friden-Cowan tallied 15.225 points; Emi Clark earned 15.050 points; Duval posted 13.850 points; and Lucy Weathers earned 5.100 points.

For Pembroke Academy, Jen Acheson finished 13th overall with 34.050 points. Kelsey Dobe placed 44th with 28.100 points.