By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTHBOROUGH — Last Saturday, the North Reading-Andover High co-op gymnastics team competed in the North Sectionals at Algonquin Regional High School.
Of the 12 teams there, only the top four would advance to the state final, which takes place this Saturday also at Algonquin High.
The Warnets came up just shy of advancing as they came in 5th with a total score of 142.60.
Reading came in fourth at 143.275.
Central Catholic, the defending state champions, came in first (147.575), Masconomet was second (146.925) and Danvers-Lynnfield placed third (146.525).
“That was our best meet of the year,” pointed out Warnets head coach Marlena Bresnick. “That was our season-high score and I was very proud of the girls. It was just too bad that we just missed qualifying.”
Alex Lee had the best performance for the team as she came in 10th-place in the all-around with a score of 36.275. The North Reading freshman had a 9.125 in the vault, an 8.55 on the bars, a 9.15 on the balance beam and a 9.45 on the floor exercise.
She was tied for 10th on the floor, 14th on the vault, tied for 17th on the beam and tied for 19th on the bars.
“Alex was amazing, especially on the floor,” said Bresnick.
Right behind her in 11th overall, was Kelsie Berry who had an all-around score of 36.050. The ninth-grader from North Reading had an 8.9 on the vault (19th place), an 8.7 on the bars (tied for 16th), a 9.2 on the beam (tied for 14th) and a 9.2 on the floor (16th).
“Kelsie had a season-high score on the floor and she nailed her performance on the beam,” said Bresnick.
Alexis Ciavardone tied for 30th overall as the North Reading freshman did three events scoring a 26.30. She scored an 8.5 (34th) on the bars, a 9.1 (tied for 19th) on the beam and a 9.15 (tied for 17th) on the floor.
Sophomore, Anna Moccia, was 32nd a with a three-event total of 26.225. She had a 8.675 (31st) on the vault, an 8.6 (tied for 33rd) on the beam and a 8.95 (tied for 29th) on the floor.
Olivia Moccia, Anna’s twin sister, did two events as she had a 8.45 on the bars and a 9.1 on the beam. She was tied for 25th on the bars and tied for 20th on the beam.
In the regular season, the Warnets came in 2nd place in the Merrimack Valley Conference going 7-1 behind undefeated Central Catholic.
They came in 3rd place in the MVC League Meet behind Central and North Andover, who they beat in the regular season.