Duo leads Marlboro’s defense of state title Colonials’ Ryan looking to repeat as all-state

Staff Writer

By tim morris

Duo leads Marlboro’s defense of state title
Colonials’ Ryan looking
to repeat as all-state

The key to staying on top is to never rest on your laurels, to keep improving.

That approach led the Marlboro High School gymnastics team to the state championship last fall, and it is the attitude that will keep them in the hunt in 2000.

Coach Cathy Pierson’s Mustangs are led by two four-year starters, Betsy and Katie Domenico, who have been a large part of Marlboro’s success. What the twins do as well as anyone is to always look for a way to score better.

"They get stronger all the time," said Pierson. "They keep adding new tricks to their routines. They’re constantly working to improve."

That work ethic led to both Domenicos qualifying for the state championships individually (Katie Domenico was ninth on the vault, and sister Betsy 12th on the floor exercise) and sparking Marlboro to the state championship.

Throughout 1999, Pierson had her gymnasts focusing on the prize: the state title. After winning their third straight Shore Conference A North Division championship, the Mustangs fell short at the Shore Conference and Central Jersey I meets. But lost in the shuffle at those meets was Marlboro’s continual improvement from 108.25 to 108.70 points. Then, at the state championships, they saved their best for when it mattered most, rolling up a school record 109.75 points in capturing the school’s first state gymnastics title.

As the Mustangs look to defend that state championship in 2000, they have several key performers back, including tri-captains Betsy and Katie Domenico and Emilie Travis (the only seniors on the team) — and they have depth.

State place winner Sarah Roman and Liz Weikes have graduated and they will leave a leadership void. They were four-year starters.

"We really will miss Sara and Liz’s style of leadership that they brought the team all four of their years," said Pierson.

However, this year’s tri-captains learned under Roman and Weikes and are keeping the Mustangs a close-knit group. They lead by their dedication to the team and the sport.

During their three years, Marlboro has gone 28-1 in dual meets and won the state championship. No one wants to keep the winning going more than this trio.

Behind the tri-captains, the Mustangs have juniors Lauren Gellis, Kelly Weikes and Cheryl Hargadon, who all pitched in at the state championships. Also back are junior Nicole Renaldi and sophomores Ashley Becker, Amanda Pereman, Alison Pinho, Yasmeen Salahudin and Ashley Smith. Freshman Jamie Schwartz is expected to have an impact.

Marlboro doesn’t have as many all-around performers as last year, but Pierson does have remarkable depth on every event. She doesn’t have to rely on any one or two gymnasts to do the job on each event. Pierson has a situation where there will always be someone who can pick up the slack for everyone else.

The Mustangs will jump right into the fire to start the season visiting their rivals from last year, Red Bank Catholic, this afternoon. The Caseys are the only team in the last three years to beat Marlboro in a dual meet.

Marlboro begins defense of the A North title at home Friday night (7 p.m.) against Ocean Township.

Freehold Borough has one of the best all-around gymnasts in the Shore, if not the state, in Allison Ryan. A senior this year, Ryan earned All-State honors on the uneven bars after placing second at the state championships.

"She’s determined to be all-state again," said Colonials Coach Richard Dyk. "Allison is a better all-around gymnast this year and is looking to qualify in all the events."

Behind Ryan, the Colonials have another solid all-arounder in sophomore Vicky Lent. She is coming off a superb freshman year and gives the borough a strong, one-two punch.

Also returning for the Colonials are junior Natasha Nelson and sophomore Kari Niedrich. They are veterans who can get the job done.

Two freshmen, Nicole Arcoleo and Jackie Verdon, are expected to have an impact immediately.

The Colonials will be a dangerous team if everyone stays healthy. They are looking to qualify for the Shore Conference and Central Jersey meets as a team.

Manalapan, Howell and Freehold Township all loom as potential threats to the Mustangs.

At Manalapan, Coach Dorine Shapiro will be relying on a mixture of underclass veterans and some promising newcomers. Juniors Katie Normandia and Crystal Accardi each qualified for the Shore Conference and state meets last year. They will again be among the Shore’s best. Senior Jennine Caruso and sophomore Nicole Burgio give the team a solid nucleus. They are all capable of going all around.

Samantha Krutzel is the incoming freshman who could make an immediate impact.

Rounding out the team are junior Mirian Livny; sophomores Kristine Cigna, Ivy Davidoff, Gina Lanzo and Sara Phillips; and freshmen Jessica Ogrodowczyk, Stacie Rosenberg, Sahi Sambamoorthi and Eri Yazaki.

The Braves will be competitive and balanced with a number of capable gymnasts giving them strong routines on each event.

Howell’s fortunes rest on five returning veterans who bring a lot of experience to the table. Senior captain Bonnie Lewis and juniors Tracey Kushner, Ashley Smith, Amanda Gartton and Lauren Kohuti are the team’s cornerstones.

The addition of three freshmen, Jennifer Sabatello, Elyse Reagan and Christina Kirsch, give Coach Barbara Clayton some flexibility and depth. Howell won’t have to look to any one or two gymnasts to shoulder the load this year. They can get solid scoring from everyone. Kushner, Smith, Kohuti and Sabatello will go all around for Clayton.

Freehold Township has a veteran team led by seniors Erin Boysen, Jocelyn Wewker and Nicole Shenker. Juniors Colleen Cassidy and Christian Lane and sophomores Stephanie Stein, Emma Fretz and Lauren Papp round out the team. The strength of Freehold Township is the number of girls who can compete in the all-around.

Newcomers Katie Lane, a freshman, Cynthia Bonitz, a sophomore, and freshman Heather O’Brien add depth. Lane adds to the team’s all-around strength.