SALEM, N.H. – Stacy Thibodeau has been coaching for a total of 13 years and she’s never seen one: a perfect 10.0 score.
At Thursday night’s Merrimack Valley Conference Gymnastics Championship Meet held at A-2 Gymnastics, the Methuen High coach and the rest of the spectators absolutely erupted when Divier Ramos landed his perfect vault, and seconds later the decimal level went to the maximum level when the 10.0 score went up in the air.
“Throughout the season I have been sticking a lot and getting really close (to a 10.0),” said Ramos, who was also third in the floor exercise with a 9.6. “There was always that one deduction, like my chest being down. I have been working on getting my chest up to avoid those deductions, and tonight to get that score on my first attempt was just so awesome.”
Heading into the meet, unless disaster struck, it was obvious that Central Catholic would win the team title and Ramos would take home the vault. Those things happened, both with MVC meet record scores.
Central Catholic won its third straight team title with an incredible 151.750 score, which ties their earlier season program record, and Ramos came away with his epic vault.
“I’m so happy for Divier because he has worked so hard and has been so close to getting it. I know it’s not effortless, but he makes it look effortless,” said Thibodeau.
Central Catholic had the top three finishers in the bars, beam and floor, and the top two in the all-around. Sophomore Zinnia Hopkinson was first in the all-around with a 38.1, which included winning the floor (9.7) and bars (9.550).
“I had a really fun time on the floor with everybody watching and being so supportive,” said Hopkinson.
Sophia Tressler, a junior, competed in club gymnastics back in Northern California before moving to Massachusetts. She was second in the all-around with a 38.0, including second places on the vault (9.650), bars (9.5) and beam (9.7).
“I went to the first practice and just loved it. It’s been so much fun, everyone has been so supportive and the whole thing has been such a great experience,” said Tressler.
Central’s Ashlyn Pinet won the beam with a 9.750, while teammate Riley Salerno was second on the floor (9.650) and third on the bars (9.250).
“Third straight time that we have won this so it feels awesome, plus we tied our (program) record (for highest team score) and that’s just crazy,” said Salerno. “There was such high energy. We know that we are very talented, but when you have the high energy with the talent, it helps bring out the best in the team.”
Team Scores: (Large School) 1. Central Catholic 151.750; 2. Andover 136.150; 3. Chelmsford/Billerica/Tyngsboro 128.450; 4. Dracut 113.750; (Small School): 1. Methuen 138.850; 2. North Andover (133.900); 3. Haverhill (131.600); 4. Tewksbury 122.400; 5. Lowell 81.200.
All-Around: 1. Zinnia Hopkinson (Central) 38.1; 2. Sophie Tressler (Central Catholic) 38.00; 3. Carlin Wong (North Andover) 36.550
Vault: 1. Divier Ramos (Methuen) 10.0; 2. Sophie Tressler (Central Catholic) 9.650; 3. Bryan Incollingo (Methuen) 9.40
Bars: 1. Zinnia Hopkinson (Central Catholic) 9.550; 2. Sophie Tressler (Central Catholic) 9.50; 3. Riley Salerno (Central Catholic) 9.250
Beam: 1. Aslyn Pinet (Central Catholic) 9.750; 2. Sophie Tressler (Central Catholic) 9.70; 3. Ally White (Central Catholic) 9.70
Floor: 1. Zinnia Hopkinson (Central Catholic) 9.7; 2. Riley Salerno (Central Catholic) 9.650; 3. Divier Ramos (Methuen) 9.60.