Nashua North's April Koczalka, shown here earlier this season, had a day to remember at the New England Championships in Fairfield, Conn. this past weekend. (Photo courtesy of Nashua Huddle)

NASHUA – April Koczalka went out in style.

The Nashua High School North senior, who finished as the seventh All Around in the NHIAA State Meet a month ago, finished tied for 22nd in the New England Gymnastics Championships this past weekend at Fairfield Warde High School in Fairfield, Conn.

After two sessions, Koczalka was the top New Hampshire All-Around – and only local — finishing in a tie for 22nd with Fairfield Warde High School gymnast Caroline Garrett with a high school career high score of 35.425.

Over 150 gymnasts competed in the event. The next highest New Hampshire All-Around was Spaulding’s Sarah Bienek, tied for 32nd at 34. 575.

That great All-Around finish was keyed by her career best performance on the uneven bars, where she tied for 12th at 9.075. Koczalka also finished in a seven way tie for 60th in balance beam at 8.50, in a four-way tie for 35th in floor exercise at 8.850, and tied for 27th (seven-way) in vault at 9.00.

“What a wonderful experience and finish to wrap up her high school gymnastics career representing Nashua North,” Titans coach Nicole Hembrow said.

Koczalka will be attending the University of New England next year, and plans to compete in club soccer and gymnastics, according to Hembrow.

Ironically, Koczalka had qualified for the New Englands as a sophomore for the first time, but the event was cancelled due to the pandemic (March of 2020). There was no official season in 2020-21 due to COVID, but this year’s event was at the same school it was originally scheduled to be two years ago.

Thus, this was a postseason to remember.

“So this was a very special time,” Hembrow said.

For a very talented gymnast.

LOCAL HOCKEY ALL-STATERS

With only two local boys and one girls team with winning records, there weren’t a plethora of locals on the New Hampshire High School Hockey Coaches Association All-State teams, but here are those that were:

In Division I boys, Bishop Guertin defenseman Cam Avery and goalie P.J. Benites were on the Second Team, while fellow Cardinal John Mantone was an Honorable Mention.

In Division II, Alvirne-Milford defenseman Dylan Greenlaw was on the Second Team while Merrimack sophomore forward Eliot Medlock and Kyle Dunn were Honorable Mentions.

In Division III, Hollis Brookline-Derryfield had forwards Paul Vachon and Jesse Gertz on Second Team and defenseman Jacob Roy as an Honorable Mention,as well as Pembroke-Campbell’s Cameron Plumb. Pembroke-Campbell’s Marc Noel was Coach of the Year.

In girls hockey, Bishop Guertin junior forward Jenna Lynch was on the First Team, while senior linemate Julie McLaughlin was on the Second Team.

The complete All-State teams will be published in this Sunday’s Telegraph.

NORTH-SOUHEGAN AGAIN

Souhegan athletic director Kelli Braley is glad the school has agreed with Nashua North to continue the co-op hockey arrangement for another two years. According to her figures, there were 13 Souhegan players on the Saber-Titan roster and says there could be as many as 18 Saber players next year joining forces with the Titans.

With that many, why go co-op? Simple. After next year’s graduation, there’s no guarantee there would be enough players down the road.

“We just have no way of telling,” Braley said. “If you remember, when the co-op was first formed, we had just come off a championship season and then didn’t have enough players. I want to make sure our kids have the opportunity to compete.”

NEW SABER BOYS LAX COACH

When Souhegan’s Keith Bertrand stepped down in February as the Sabers boys lacrosse coach, but Braley had a quick thought as to who could replace him.

Introducing former Saber assistant coach Nick Lambros as the new Souhegan mentor, and he’ll start his tenure when practice is slated to begin next week.

Lambros for the last few years was involved with the school’s robotics team and hadn’t been coaching lacrosse.

“When Keith informed us he wasn’t going to be able to continue, (Lambros) was the first person who came to my mind,” Braley said.