Scherbo gymnasts crush competition

     By Todd Dewey
     View staff writer
      Vitaly Scherbo won six gold medals in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona to become the most decorated male gymnast in Olympic history.
      Now the Russian lives in Las Vegas, where he teaches students at the Vitaly Scherbo School of Gymnastics, located on Cheyenne and Jones Ave.
      While the school has only been open for a little more than a year, it has quickly established itself as one of the best in the city.
      Recently, its level-six girls team rolled to the title of the Reno Hilton 2000 Invitational, which featured close to 400 competitors, ages 7-17, from across the country. The meet featured gymnasts from 15 states.
      Four girls from Scherbo's school -- Jordan Evans, Cierra Isham, Amanda Lay and Austie Lavietes -- teamed to crush their competition 102-96.
      The top three finishers in each individual event earn points toward a team score.
      "A lot of teams have 10 to 12 girls, so it makes it a little easier in the all-around (score)," said Keith Greer, who coached the level-six squad. "When you have four girls, they pretty much all have to nail their routines (to win). It's really rare (to win a team title with only four girls)."
      All four girls from Scherbo's school did nail their routines, however, to capture the crown of the national amateur meet -- in the compulsory level six -- over 12 other teams.
      Evans, 11, placed first in all four events -- vault, bars, beam and floor -- to finish first all-around in her age group.
      Lay, 12, placed second in vault, eighth in bars, first in beam and first in floor to also earn first place all-around honors.
      Isham, 8, finished first in vault, fourth in bars, first in beam and first in floor to place third all-around.
      Lavietes, 12, finished first in vault, third in bars, sixth in beam and third in floor to also place third all-around.
      Several other girls from the school also fared well in Reno.
      Sarah Lewis, 13, placed third all-around at level seven. Sarah Caseale, 12, placed sixth all-around at level eight. Gabbi Imai, 8, placed 12th all-around in a beginning level, and Maria Lawson, 13, placed 15th.
      The four girls who comprised the level-six title team will be in action at 8 a.m. on Sunday at a state gymnastics meet at Clark High School. The state meet will be held Friday through Sunday at Clark.
      John Lay, Amanda's father, is very impressed with the Vitaly Scherbo School of Gymnastics.
      "I wouldn't ever change (schools). It's fantastic, the camaraderie," he said. "We're thinking about moving back to New York and (the school) is the only thing holding us back."
      Lay said his daughter, who entered the school at level four, has improved dramatically in less than two years there.
      "She was in level four (with another gym in town) two years ago and now she's level six and will be level seven soon," he said. "If you saw tapes of her (from two years ago) you wouldn't believe it. You wouldn't think it's the same girl. It's just amazing.
      "It usually takes five years to get a gym established and have a good team, but (Scherbo) did it a lot quicker."
      Those interested in the school can call 259-5020.