SBHS takes dead aim on states

By: Rich Fisher
   Fresh off a spectacular Greater Middlesex Conference championship meet performance, the South Brunswick High School gymnastics team now turns its attention to a bigger arena.
   The Vikings are gearing up for Saturday’s Central Jersey sectional meet, which gets underway at Hunterdon Central at noon. For pretty much the first time in the program’s history, SBHS is going to this meet with a legitimate chance of qualifying for the state tournament as a team.
   The first-place team at each sectional, plus the next five highest team totals from among all the sectionals will qualify for the state meet.
   "We are totally in the running for a spot in the states as a team," coach Erika Casey said. "But if we don’t, that’s OK too. I’m still very confident that many of these girls will be making states as individuals. If they maintain what they have been doing, then things should follow through in the end and the reward is qualifying for states."
   The Vikings, who seem to be making school history every time they compete, will invade the Hunterdon Central Field House with a record number of competitors.
   There will be five — count ’em! — five all-around performers in Ellise Kaplowitz, Shannon Martin, Marisa Liptak, and Jess and Carissa Macay. If that’s not enough, Chrissy Saragnese qualified for beam, vault and floor, Sarah Caputo is on board on vault and bars, Lisa Bondi checks in on beam and floor, Becca Castagnola will compete on vault and beam, while Jenna Mayfield (vault), Chelsea Reilly (beam) and Jess Attardo (floor) will also join in the fun.
   In case you lost track, that makes a total of 37 spots where the Vikings can score points that can be applied to the team score. The Vikings qualified in fourth place as a team behind Bishop Ahr, Hillsborough and Hunterdon Central.
   "Any girl in an event can contribute as long as they are our top three scores in that event, just like in a dual meet," Casey said. "I do not have to designate three specific girls per event (to count as team scorers) because I have more than three. If I didn’t, then I would have to substitute and designate."
   The Vikes will travel throughout the meet with South Plainfield, whom they shared the Sportsmanship Award with at the GMC meet. Their rotation will be beam, floor, vault and bars.
   "That’s perfect, because we get one of the most nerve-wracking events out of the way," Casey said. "The rest is more relaxing and fun for the girls."
   The coach added that practices have been "amazing" this week.
   "The girls worked very hard, going for new skills, but more importantly, successfully landing those skills," Casey said. "We are going hard at sectionals, these girls want to take it all the way to states. They definitely deserve it.
   "It’s just very exciting to have such a well-rounded, strong team this year. All of the coaches are very proud of all the hard work and determination these girls have brought in to the gym this season, but it’s not over yet."
   Far from it, in fact.
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   Vikings who will not be headed for sectionals in certain events competed in the Novice GMC meet last Wednesday, and fared as well there as they do in everything else.
   "We kicked butt there too," Casey said proudly.
   Bondi took second on vault (8.2) and fifth on bars, while Mayfield won floor (8.4) and was third on beam (8.1). Jess Attardo won beam (8.3) and Michelle Davies took third on floor. It was the final high school meet for seniors Kristin Kirbos, Rachel Thompson and Davies.
   In the awards department, Liptak earned All-County on floor while Martin and Kaplowitz made all-area. In a no-brainer selection, Casey was named GMC Coach of the Year.