The MIAA board of directors voted Thursday to reinstate boys' gymnastics, a reversal from the winter when the same board voted to no longer recognize the sport.

“I’m very happy. I’m not really thinking about myself but for the 50-plus kids who are waiting for the news from me," said Lowell coach Samnang Hor, a 2002 Lowell grad and coach of the biggest boys’ gymnastics team in the state. "I know they’re going to be super excited. I can’t wait to see their faces. It gets to continue on, this tradition of boys’ gymnastics. It’s going to keep a lot of the kids off the streets. It’s a great thing for them.”

The decision reversed a 10-3 vote in January ending MIAA sponsorship of boys' gymnastics. That vote came after the National Federation said it would withdraw support after the 2012-13 school year and would no longer write rules for the sport. Protest from the gymnastics community, including Olympians Peter Korman and Aly Raisman, kept the issue alive and pushed it onto Thursday’s agenda.

As previously reported by the Globe's Emily Sweeney, the MIAA’s Jan. 16 vote to end sanctioned competition for boys' gymnastics had drawn harsh criticism from coaches, parents, and gymnasts all over the country. That vote had essentially downgraded boys’ gymnastics to a club activity next season.

MIAA officials said then that the decision was driven by low participation rates. There are only seven public high schools — Andover, Attleboro, Braintree, Burlington, Lowell, Newton North, and Newton South — that have boys' gymnastics teams.

By Emily Sweeney, Globe Staff

Boys’ gymnastics may get a second chance to be reinstated as an official high school sport in Massachusetts.

The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association's board of directors decided Wednesday to reconsider its vote in January to drop boys’ gymnastics from its roster of sponsored athletic activities.

The MIAA’s Jan. 16 vote to end sanctioned competition for boys' gymnastics had drawn harsh criticism from coaches, parents, and gymnasts all over the country. That vote had essentially downgraded boys’ gymnastics to a club activity next season.

MIAA officials said then that the decision was driven by low participation rates. There are only seven public high schools — Andover, Attleboro, Braintree, Burlington, Lowell, Newton North, and Newton South — that have boys' gymnastics teams.

The MIAA board of directors is expected to take the issue up again at their next scheduled meeting on June 6, which provides hope that boys’ gymnastics can continue as usual next season.

Braintree High athletic director Michael Denise, and Rich Ellis, boys’ gymnastics coach at the school, appeared before the MIAA board of directors and presented their reasons to reinstate boys’ gymnastics.

“Once they heard some of the facts, they certainly were positive to it,” said Ellis, in a telephone interview. “During the discussion, the board members said, ‘Why are we dropping them?’”

Ellis said the board voted 7-2 to revisit the issue at their next meeting on June 6. As it stands, if the MIAA board of directors does not act to reverse their original decision, there will be no MIAA-sanctioned high school gymnastics competitions for boys next season, and no boys’ state championship. The seven schools with boys’ gymnastics teams would be able to offer boys’ gymnastics as a club sport.

Ellis said he was “hoping something would be resolved” at the May 1 meeting, but he was otherwise pleased with how it turned out. He said he’s looking forward to the next MIAA meeting, and plans to reach out to other coaches, parents, and athletes to join him in voicing support for boys' gymnastics.

“I’m going to have to rally the troops," he said.

By Zuri Berry, Boston.com Staff

Once again, Boston.com will be providing live coverage from the Super 8 tournament at Tsongas Center in Lowell for Wednesday's doubleheader.

The tournament is now into the semifinals, with Malden Catholic taking on Catholic Memorial at 6 p.m. followed by St. John's Prep vs. Austin Prep at 7:45 p.m.

Winners of each game will play in the Super 8 championship Sunday at TD Garden.

You can follow Super 8 tournament action in our live blog for updates, commentary, photos, and video.

By Sarah Moomaw, Globe Correspondent

Due to an expected weekend snow storm - for the third straight week - the MIAA announced alterations to its Saturday lineup of sectional and All-State meets for indoor track and gymnastics.

All will go on as planned, but with earlier times.

The All-State Indoor Track Meet at Reggie Lewis Track Center has been rescheduled for 9:30 a.m., from 11 a.m., in hopes of beating the worst of the storm. Relays will begin promptly after the finish of the girls' 2-mile run.

The schedule for the girls' gymnastics sectionals has also been changed. The South sectional check-in will begin at 8:30 a.m., with the meet starting at 9:30 a.m. Check-in for the North meet will begin at 12:30 p.m., with competition getting underway at 1:30 p.m. Both meets will be held at Hudson High School.

The MIAA advised all athletes, coaches, and fans to check MIAA.net for further weather related announcements.

By Zuri Berry, Boston.com Staff

The MIAA has postponed all of its section tournaments for wrestling and boys gymnastics because of Friday's impending snowstorm.

The 12 section tournaments for wrestling have been rescheduled for Saturday, Feb. 16. Because of the postponements, all division and state tournaments will also be pushed back a week.

The boys gymnastics tournament will be pushed to Friday, Feb. 15.

By Justin A. Rice, Globe Correspondent

High school principals and athletic directors have until next Wednesday to nominate student athletes for the 16th annual Massachusetts Student-Athlete Citizenship Awards Ceremony on April 24 at Northeastern University.

This awards ceremony and program are designed to recognize Massachusetts high school student-athletes who have demonstrated excellence in three disciplines: academics, athletics and citizenship. The ceremony will be held from 8:30 a.m. to noon in the Curry Student Center Ballroom at Northeastern University.

The theme of this year’s event is “How Can Student-Athletes Make a Difference in the Community?”

The event, which is being sponsored by Sport in Society at Northeastern University and the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association, is open to schools in Districts A, B, C, D, E and H.

Each school can nominate two male and two female students that merit this recognition and have participated in community service. One faculty member, coach, or parent representative should also be willing to provide transportation and accompany the students.

For more information contact Ted O’Reilly at 617-373-4025 or m.oreilly@neu.edu.

Justin A. Rice can be reached at jrice.globe@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @GlobeJustinRice or @BPSspts.

By Hannah Becker, Globe correspondent

Newton South has a new gymnastics star.

In her first vault as a member of the Lions girls’ gymnastics team, freshman Camila Hernandez broke the school record in the event, during Wednesday night’s 134.0-133.9 win over Billerica.

Hernandez scored a 8.9 for her piked tsukahara vault, breaking the record of 8.8 set in 2006 by Violette Ehartock.

“She’s a strong vaulter,” coach Greg Beaupre said. “Very powerful.”

Hernandez, who competes in all four events, suffered a hyperextended knee during warmups for the team’s first meet of the season. She has been gradually coming back, according to Beaupre, and tonight was the first night she was able to compete to her full ability.

“She’s very focused and dedicated,” Beaupre said. “Basically willing to do anything for her team.”

The Lions squeaked out the one-10th victory, thanks in large part to Hernandez.

In addition to finishing first on vault, she also won the uneven bars (8.85), and finished second in floor (9.25) and balance beam (8.7). She took home first in the all-around with a 35.7.

“She’s definitely the type of kid you really want to have on your team,” Beaupre said.

By Liz Torres, Globe Correspondent

In a duel of unbeatens, Burlington (5-0) toppled Andover (4-1), 153-147.75, in boys' gymnastics yesterday.

Red Devils freshman Ryan Girouard emerged as a top athlete in the meet on the floor (8.25), pommel horse (7.1), high bar (8.5), parallel bars (6), vault (8.65) and rings (6.75).
Senior Joe Hanafin scored 5.35 on the high bar and 6.6 on the parallel bars and 8.35 in the vault.

"Both are key players and a foundation for the team," said Red Devils coach Rich Baczewski.

With the MIAA North and South gymnastics sectionals just weeks away, the Globe debuts its ranking of the top teams in each region. The top 12 teams in each sectional, based on each school's four best scores, advance to the Feb. 19 North and South meets at Hudson High School. Barnstable is the defending state champion and hopes to defend that title on Sat. Feb. 26.

For all of the standings, and rankings, go here.

As you may have noticed when you picked up your Boston Globe this morning, all of our high school sports standings are moving online here at Boston.com starting today.

Hop over to High School Sports Central for all of today's content, which includes:

• Notebooks for boys' and girls' basketball and boys' hockey
• Standings for all winter sports
• Players of the week and leading scorers

If you don't see the standings for your favorite team or league, please get in touch with your coach, athletic director, or league representative and remind them to contact the Globe on Sundays to report the latest information.