Vaimberg hangs tough at Open

Staples senior captain Emma Vaimberg more than held her own in her final in-state gymnastics meet on Saturday.

"I wanted to end my senior year very strong and I was happy with my performance today," Vaimberg said.

Vaimberg closed out her Connecticut career by scoring an 8.4 on floor exercise at the State Open championship meet at New Milford. She was poised during her routine and made a dramatic entrance in nailing her first tumbling pass, a front handspring, front full and followed it up by sticking her second pass, a back handspring, back handspring, back tuck.

During her routine, she was graceful in her dance moves and in her swanlike pose while on the floor. She then closed out strong with a back handspring, back handspring, back layout.

"I was really happy with my performance on floor today," Vaimberg said. "I added a new tumbling pass and I'm glad I landed it."

Vaimberg also competed on the balance beam and scored a 7.65. Going into the meet, she was perfect on beam with no falls. Unfortunately, for her, this string of perfect balance ended with two falls, which happens to everyone. Before her falls, she stuck a switch leap, back handspring, wolf jump and full turn.

Nevertheless, she bounced back and nailed her wolf jump and roundoff front pike dismount.

"I was nervous on beam but I thought I did well there," Vaimberg said.

Overall, making State Open is an accomplishment in itself for the 1,000-point scorer. In fact, she has a strong chance of competing for Team Connecticut at the National Championships during Memorial Day weekend. The top seniors in the state make the team and she'll find out on March 18 at the All-State banquet.

"I'm very happy with her performance," Lady Wreckers Coach Melissa Zigmont said. "She had a very strong meet. The top 40 in the state in each event qualify for State

Open and she has a lot to be proud of."