Kardosh gives injured Viking gymnasts a lift

By: Rich Fisher
   A usual scenario in sports has a senior-dominated team racked with injuries, which gives the young players their chance to gain experience.
   That situation is working in reverse for the South Brunswick High gymnastics team, and Kate Kardosh is taking advantage of the situation.
   Entering the season, first-year coach Jen Petri-Charmello was counting on talented cast of freshmen to lead the way. But Amanda LaCorte suffered a season-ending broken wrist prior to the season, Melissa Tannenbaum sprained an ankle at East Brunswick last Thursday and will be out for a week, and Caitlin Pearl is hobbled by a pulled thigh muscle which limits her to competing only in the beam.
   But the Vikings are still 2-1 as Kardosh has stepped up in a big way, having achieved the necessary two qualifying scores for all four events in the NJSIAA sectionals.
   "I didn’t know how high she would be scoring," Petri-Charmello said. "She’s done very well. I’m very pleased with her.
   "Kate is an extremely serious, hard-working competitor and I think that goes around for all parts of her life, not just gymnastics. She’s serious about taking SAT classes, trying to get into a very good college. I think she comes from a serious, strong background, that’s what makes her competitive edge a little better."
   In Monday’s 95.75 to 84.9 win over Piscataway, Kardosh had an 8.4 on vault, a 7.25 on bars and an 8.0 on beam.
   Another strong effort against the Chiefs came from seniors Alyssa Cantoni, who had an 8.1 on vault.
   "The seniors are getting more play than I anticipated and are really doing well," Petri-Charmello said. "Alyssa is doing a nice job for us."
   Other highlights in the win over Piscataway were provided by freshmen Laura Chirico (bars, 7.825) and Pearl (vault, 8.35), junior Sarah Tye (floor, 8.1), sophomore Risa Levine (floor, 8.25) and junior Brandii Smith (floor, 7.15).
   "The was the first time Brandii got to compete and she really brought the team up," Petri-Charmello said.
   Last Thursday, the Vikings looked good in losing to East Brunswick, 101.625 to 98.65.
   "We performed well against East Brunswick and probably should have won," Petri-Charmello said. "But I don’t think we performed that well against Piscataway. I think we should be scoring 100 or above by now, but maybe the injuries have something to do with it."
   Tannenbaum was having an excellent meet at EB with an 8.8 on vault, 8.9 an bars and 9.0 on beam, but did not compete in floor after hurting her ankle on the beam. She is in a walking cast now and may be out until next week.
   Kardosh had an 8.2 on floor and finished 32.5 in all-around against East Brunswick.
   The Vikings had Wednesday’s meet with South Plainfield re-scheduled to Oct. 8, and will return to action Tuesday and Thursday with 4:30 p.m. home meets against Bishop Ahr and North Brunswick.