CVU, Essex set for gymnastics showdown at states
Alex Abrami
Champlain Valley and Essex will once again battle for state supremacy at the high school gymnastics championship on Saturday.
The only difference this time around? The Redhawks are the defending champs.
After ending Essex's 12-year title reign last winter, CVU enters looking to retain its crown. The state competition begins at 2 p.m. at Essex High School.
The top-seeded Redhawks are 6-0 on the season, earning an ultra-slim victory (131.4 to 131.2) over the rival Hornets (6-1) on Dec. 19.
2018 revisit:CVU seizes gymnastics crown, ends Essex's 12-year reign
St. Johnsbury (6-2) and Montpelier (6-3) are ranked third and fourth, respectively, in the nine-school meet that also includes four independent gymnasts.
Defending champion Diana Gregoire of South Burlington is back and among the favorites for the all-around crown.
Other contenders to watch for the all-around include Essex's Abbey Gleason and Ella Lesney, CVU's Laurynn Bombardier and Delaney Miller-Bottoms, Montpelier's Zoey Dubois and St. Johnsbury's Anna Cushing and Emma Stelzner.