Seven area gymnasts will head to Buffalo this weekend for the New York State Public High School Athletic Association championships on Saturday.

Many of them will be going for the first time.
For the contingent from the Valley Central gymnastics team, everything is new as the program will complete a banner first season on Saturday at Kenmore West High School.
The first-year Vikings won the Section 9 championship on Feb. 12 at Ziggy’s Gymnastics Academy in Middletown. They also will send six gymnasts to the state meet: Eleanor O’Neill, Bailey Badendyck, Reilly Benson, Kaylee Benson, Christina Punch.

The Wallkill Panthers, were the two-time defending champions until the Vikings took the title, will send two gymnasts, Marlee McCullough and Elizabeth Kellner to the state meet.

McCullough and Benson made the state meet in all four events – vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercises – and will be eligible to compete in the all-around competition.
O’Neill and Badendyck also will compete in the vault; Kaylee Benson and Punch will compete in the uneven bars. Kellner, Punch and Kaylee Benson also will compete on the beam while Kellner and Kaylee Benson will take part in the floor exercises.

The state team is rounded out by FDR’s Emma Jaeger and Cassie Juliano, and Kingston’s Alivia Gambino.

There are five rotations and Section 9 is grouped with Section 7 (Northern Region). They will start with the vault. They will get the second rotation off, before competing on the uneven bars, balance beam, and finishing the day with the floor exercises.

The meet will begin with 10 a.m. opening ceremonies and competition will begin immediately after. Closing ceremonies are scheduled for 3 p.m. with the presentation of awards scheduled for immediately after.

Section 9 Gymnastics Team
Vault: Cassie Juliano (FDR), Eleanor O’Neill (VC), Emma Jaeger (FDR), Bailey Badendyck (VC), Reilly Benson (VC), Marlee McCullough (Wallkill)
Uneven Bars: Kaylee Benson (VC), Emma Jaeger (FDR), Alivia Gambino (Kingston), Christina Punch (VC), Marlee McCullough (Wallkill), Reilly Benson (VC).

Balance Beam: Elizabeth Kellner (Wallkill), Christina Punch (VC), Emma Jaeger (FDR), Kaylee Benson (VC), Reilly Benson (VC), Marlee McCullough (Wallkill)

Floor exercises: Emma Jaeger (FDR), Alivia Gambino (Kingston), Elizabeth Kellner (VC), Reilly Benson (VC), Kaylee Benson (VC), Marlee McCullough (Wallkill)

All-around: Reilly Benson (VC), Emma Jaeger (FDR), Marlee McCullough (Wallkill)