The gymnastics team placed third in a controversial finish on Nov. 7 at the state meet in Newton.

Coach Jackie Cipollini submitted an “illegal inquiry” for senior Sierra Trussel’s beam score, resulting in a point deduction to the overall score of the team.

“When I found out we had the penalty, I didn’t understand what had happened,” athletic director Richard Grinage said.

“When they announced us as third, I was shocked.”

Becky Oakes, the assistant director at the National Federation for State High Associations, told highschool.rivals.com why the rule is in place.

“It’s for the flow of the sport itself,” she said. “To allow a coach to always question an official could really interrupt the flow of events for the athletes and the competition.”

Trussel at first expected the deduction to be appealed, but later found it was not appealable.

“We were kind of hopeful it would change,” she said. “I think we’re kind of getting over it. We know we were the better team, and we are the better gymnasts.”

The deduction can be compared to strike in baseball, in that the judge’s call cannot be overturned.

“It’s hard to accept when someone makes a mistake that costs the entire team a point,” Grinage said. “For me personally, the whole thing was very hard to accept.”

Cipollini told the KC Star, “The Shawnee Mission Northwest Cougars gymnasts showed their strength, their pride and their confidence. They were the team to beat. People in the stands stood and watched. We were the strongest team and had the highest score with 103.9 points, but, because of a ruling that has never been enforced in 30 years; we got a 102.9 and were third place.”

Grinage later explained the situation to the gymnastics team.

“The girls took it well. We have a very mature team.”

Trussel said she was happy with her performance overall.

“I thought we did the best that we could. We scored the highest that we had all season,” she said.

Grinage who attended the state meet to support the team said he has a hard time acknowledging what happened.

‘It’s still hard to believe that a penalty like this could cost the state championship. I wish it wouldn’t have happened.”

Controversy erupted in the gym. The Cougars had entered the fourth rotation of the event with a .4 point lead above Free-State and Newton’s scores were not high enough to even put them in the running for the top three places. It was unclear what boosted Newton’s score, but it is obvious what led to the Cougar’s demise.

After a question had come up about one of the Northwest gymnast’s beam score, NW coach Jackie Cipollini went to the meet referee to propose and inquiry. The rule book states that an inquiry must be submitted within five minutes after the last competitor finishes. Unclear on the coaches intent to submit the inquiry, the referee deducted one point from the Cougar’s team score, which according to one of the judges, hadn’t been enforced in her 30 years of being part of the gymnastics program.

According to the official rule book, a .1 point deduction is given in the case of a late inquiry, the Cougars were given a 1 point deduction which is only given if the inquiry delays the meet, and in this case it hadn’t. Athletic director Richard Grinage and NW principal, Bill Harrington, are looking to appeal to KSHSAA to reverse the decision, giving NW first place.

Mary Graves at a previous gymnastics meet.

The Northwest Gymnastics team was able to walk out of Lawrence Free State high school on Saturday with yet another first place to tack on to their 2009 record. The Firebirds hosted an invitational that included Northwest, Emporia, Lawrence High, and Newton.

There were Northwest gymnasts in the top three in every event. Senior Sierra Trussell placed first in both floor routine and balance beam and placed 3rd in all around. Senior Mary Graves placed first in the uneven bars and 6th place all around.

“The JV really stepped it up today and that definitely had a huge impact in our overall score” junior Jessica Tingle said.

You can catch the Cougars again on Wednesday, 6 pm at Olathe East.

The Northwest gymnastics team swept the competition once again at Shawnee Mission North on Tuesday night winning the meet by a landslide. The girls showed exemplary performance having people place in the top three in every event. Junior Jessica Tingle took 1^st in all-around while senior Mary Graves took 3rd. Senior Sierra Trussell contributed tremendously by taking 2^nd place in both the uneven bars and balance beam events. Senior Molli Bird placed 2^nd in vault and Camry Jones placed 1^st on balance beam.

You can catch the Cougars in action on Saturday, September 19^th at North high school.

Photos by Caitlyn Massy

Senior Mary Jane Graves took first place on the uneven bars, and also took home first place overall in the meet.

The Cougar Gymnastics team kicked off their 2009 campaign Wednesday night at Shawnee Mission West. The girls were in a heated competition against Shawnee Mission West High School, Lawrence Freestate, and Lawrence High.

“We were really relaxed coming into the meet, which I think made a difference in the way we performed” said Senior Mary Graves.

Throughout the meet no one team had a clear lead. The Northwest girls went out and conquered the uneven bars taking the top three places. which w

as shocking, considering a handful were suffering from calloused hands.

“The first meet is the best to get off on” said head coach, Jackie Cip

ollini. “Not all the girls were 100% physically and mentally coming into the meet, but all of them stepped up and pushed through whatever was getting to them.”

The Cougars valiant effort earned the team 1st place and the first victory of the season. Senior Mary Graves took first place all-around, and Junior Jessica Tingle took 3rd in all-around.

The girl’s next match is Tuesday, September 4th, at Shawnee Mission North.