By Ryan O’connor
The two squads have drastically different expectations.
So when the Salem girls gymnastics team rolled over visiting Pelham, 130.1 to 116.45, on Friday, Jan. 18, neither coach expressed much surprise.
For Salem coach Ginnie LaVallo, this season’s goal is another state championship to add to the 11 trophies she’s accumulated the last 25 years.
Strangely, for Pelham coach Amanda Iwanicki, the task may prove even more difficult.
She’s trying to build a top-level varsity program with no budget.
Though the second-year team is considered club level by Pelham High School, the Lady Pythons compete against varsity foes, often facing Salem and other top Granite State programs while attempting to build much-needed confidence among its athletes.
But it can be difficult facing the Salems of the world each week, said Iwanicki.
In fact, if it wasn’t for Pelham standout Chelsea I’Anson, Salem would have swept the most recent meet – despite missing two of its best gymnasts.
I’Anson, who finished first on beam with an 8.8 and second on bars with a 7.6, placed third in the all-round, accumulating a total score of 32.35 in the four events.
“Chelsea competes year round. She’s a level-8 gymnast, and it doesn’t matter if it’s at a private gym or a high school gym, she puts in the same effort and that makes a big difference,” said Iwanicki. “Not only is she a good athlete, but she’s very coachable. She wants to get better.”
Others competing for Pelham included Shaunna Legatos, Kally Riddinger, Xiomaran Ramos, Yvonne Figueiredo, Seabrina Blais and Chelsey Desmarais.
Each is there for a different reason, said Iwanicki, but no one girl is more important to the team than the next; they bring individual strengths in terms of talent and leadership.
For Salem, Jolena Diefendorf won the all-around with a 34.6, beating teammate Shireen Kirata, who finished with a 33.0 points.
Diefendorf won three of four events, placing second only on beam, where she scored an 8.6.
She earned an 8.35 on vault, 8.65 on bars and 8.65 on floor.
Kirata also placed in each event, taking second on floor with an 8.7, second on vault with an 8.3, third on beam with an 8.5 and third on bars with a 7.5.
Does all the winning for the 12-0 Lady Blue Devils ever make it difficult to maintain a high level of intensity?
“No, because we spent years being the bridesmaid,” said LaVallo. “We lost by half a point to Pinkerton a few years ago (at states). So, they’re all ready, and a lot of them are already talking about the moves they’re going to have for next year. They get psyched and motivated just watching their teammates get better and learn different moves.”
Earlier in the week, the two squads met with Londonderry as a common opponent on Jan. 15. The Lady Blue Devils accumulated their best total score of the year with a 134.9 to Londonderry’s 124 and Pelham’s 104.45.
LeeAnn Vadala, who missed the Friday night event, finished second in the all-around on Jan. 15. She was edged by Diefendorf, 34.2 to 34.15. The two combined for more than half of the total team points.
Vadala scored 9.25 on bars and 9.2 on floor to finish first in both events.
Diefendorf took second on bars and beam with scores of 8.55 and 8.4, and third on floor with a 9.05.
Kirata posted a personal best on beam and floor with an 8.7 and 9.0, respectively. She won beam and placed fourth on floor.
Jessica Maffeo, who also missed the Jan. 18 meet, finished third on vault and bars with an 8.3 in both events.
Other personal bests came from Steph Schaefer on beam with an 8.0 and captain Lizzy Lavigne with a 7.85 on floor.
Salem’s 36.25 points on floor was its highest of the year.
For Pelham, I’Anson tied for third on beam with an 8.0.
Salem next faces Concord and Souhegan at home on Friday, Jan. 25.
Pelham was scheduled for a meet at Pinkerton Academy on Wednesday, Jan. 23.