SPRING HIGHLIGHTS : Grant Succumbs to Injuries, Venice in Gymnastics Semifinal

Grant High Coach Kay McGregor wasn’t fooled by the final score. She knew her girls gymnastics team was in trouble after the second event at the City semifinals Wednesday.

The Lancers lost the services of No. 2 performer Stacy Jester, who hurt her back during the vault competition. Jester managed to score an 8.45 on the uneven bars but was scratched from the balance beam and the floor exercise at Venice High.

With Grant at less than full strength, Venice (8-0) took a three-point lead after two events and coasted to a 154.55-150.55 victory to reach the finals. In Wednesday’s other semifinal, Eagle Rock defeated San Pedro, 164.0-152.5, and meets Venice in next week’s final at a site to be determined by a coin flip.

Grant (5-1-1) was eliminated from the playoffs.

“Something just snapped in Stacy’s back,” McGregor said. “She was able to compete on the bars because it didn’t take that much energy, but she just couldn’t do the other events.”

Grant’s No. 1 performer also was injured, but Tori Silvera managed to compete despite suffering a groin injury on the uneven bars. Silvera posted scores of 9.05 on the vault, 7.1 on the uneven bars, 6.55 on the balance beam, and 7.25 in the floor exercise.

Venice got strong performances from Tonya Kwock and Raquel Franker. Kwock registered a 7.65 in the floor exercise, 8.8 on the balance beam, 8.8 on the vault, and 9.05 on the uneven bars. Franker scored 8.85 on the vault, 8.5 on the uneven bars, and 8.0 in the floor exercise.