Wantagh's Brianna Quinn wants to follow brother Kyle's winning ways

Wantagh senior Brianna Quinn would like to follow in the footsteps of her younger brother Kyle when she takes the mat during the state gymnastics championships Saturday at Smithtown East High School.

Kyle, a sophomore, won the state 106-pound wrestling championship last weekend. Brianna wouldn't mind following suit with the all-around title.

"It would be nice," said Quinn, who will attend the University of Bridgeport in the fall. "I just have to focus on myself and just think that I can do it."

When Kyle won his state title, Brianna Quinn said, "I told him, 'Good job. I'm very proud of you. You deserve it.' He will be there rooting me on."

On an 11-girl Nassau team, Quinn's hope is to place in the top three for the all-around. She's counting on the floor exercise, which she called her favorite event, to put her on the map.

"Just because I love to tumble," said Quinn, whose best all-around score (36.75) was at the Nassau championships at Hicksville. "I'm excited to compete. I've been working really hard for all four events."

Brianna Quinn can also expect her New Image Gymnastics (Brentwood) coach Robin Thomas-Harper and her husband, Carlos Harper, to cheer for her and Bay Shore's Olivia O'Connor.

Quinn and O'Connor are considered Level 10 gymnasts at the facility, which is "the highest level you can go in the Junior Olympic program," said Thomas-Harper.

"We're currently forming new kids to grow into the same quality athletes that Olivia and Brianna have grown into," Thomas-Harper said. "We're very active in recruiting the student-athletes for college scholarships."

From a team perspective, Quinn is confident Nassau and other local all-around competitors such as Stephanie Jennings (Elmont) and Jessica Lopez (Plainview JFK) can place high.

"Yeah, we have a good shot, just because we really want to beat all the teams," Quinn said. "We've been working really hard. We just have to hit all the events and stay clean."