HHS gymnasts soared to historic heights

Team finished third in state

By: Rudy Brandl
   
   The Hillsborough High gymnastics team continued its climb up the state ladder with its finest season in school history this fall.
   It certainly wasn’t an easy campaign for the Raiders, who excelled despite injuries to almost every key gymnast on the squad. The HHS girls stuck together, remained consistent and saved some of their finest performances for the end of the season.
   Hillsborough capped its memorable year with a school-record third place in the NJSIAA Championships at Rutgers University. The Raiders posted their highest state score ever (109.35) and finished as the No. 1 public school in the state behind parochial schools Bishop Ahr and Red Bank Catholic.
   "I’m always proud of them at the end of the season, but we feel more satisfied after states this year," HHS head coach Beth Murrin said. "In the past years, I always felt we finished lower than our capabilities. We finished where we deserved to be this year. We went in as a No. 3 seed and we lived up to that. We went in and got on the podium. That’s the next step toward winning a state championship."
   For those who believe in trends, the Raiders should win the state title next year after progressing from seventh to fifth to third place in the last three seasons.
   "We’ll keep working hard," Murrin said. "We’re excited for next year. Next year has the potential to be very exciting."
   The Raiders will move on without three graduating seniors who were very instrumental in the program’s great success the last four years. Kristen Shaw, Leah Goldberg and Melissa Arango helped the Raiders post a 55-4 record during their scholastic careers. The team lost one dual meet each season but won three Skyland Conference meet titles and three conference regular season championships to go with four South Jersey League crowns in the last four years. Hillsborough also captured the county team title this year.
   "They’re probably the most dedicated group to leave here," Murrin said. "They were all talented gymnasts who were willing to work their butts off to get those scores we needed. They were very consistent over the four years."
   The upperclassmen played a huge role in Hillsborough’s late-season dual meet triumph over Hunterdon Central that clinched the Skyland Conference title.
   "I love this team," Shaw said after the team avenged its only loss of the season with a big victory over Central. "These girls are my family. No matter what, we’re always there for each other."
   HHS and Central enjoyed quite a rivalry this fall. After splitting during the regular season, Central won the Skyland Conference meet title but Hillsborough gained the upper hand at the sectionals and states to win the war.
   The emergence of sophomore Christina Rhoades ignited Hillsborough’s stellar season. Rhoades, one of few HHS gymnasts to remain healthy this season, led the way in most of the big meets. She finished second in the Somerset County and Skyland Conference meets, fourth in Central Section 2 and 12th in the state.
   Rhoades was consistent on all four events and produced scores well over 9.0 in most cases. She used a Yurchenko pike to spice up her vault, improved her bars and beam routines with more difficulty and dazzled with more tricks on the floor.
   "Christina has a lot more confidence coming out of this season," Murrin said. "She was great this year."
   Fellow sophomore Chrissy Weber was limited due to a back injury but still produced some big scores for the Raiders. Weber missed some dual meets but competed through the pain in the bigger events at the end of the season. She contributed a 9.425 on bars and 9.125 on vault in the state meet.
   Junior Mary-Kate Lynch endured serious pain in her elbow but didn’t let that stop her from competing in the individual portion of the state finals after helping her team finish third earlier in the day. Lynch started her comeback season with a solid performance at the Pioneer Invitational. She continued to battle and capped her great year with a pair of 9.425 scores on beam and floor to earn a spot on the state podium.
   Lynch and Weber’s grit and determination inspired the team.
   "They were amazing," Rhoades said. "Their injuries are serious and they bounced back. If I didn’t have Mary-Kate and Chrissy by my side, I wouldn’t be able to do all these things."
   Rhoades, Weber and Lynch either set or tied the school records on all four events this season. Rhoades hit 9.575 on vault and Weber won the sectional bars title with a 9.7, while Lynch tied the record on beam (9.675) and set a new standard on floor (9.75). Rhoades (37.875), Weber (37.7) and Lynch (37.3) all surpassed the 37-point mark for all-around scores this fall.
   Freshman Jess Leinbach also emerged as a dependable gymnast. Leinbach posted personal highs on beam (9.6), floor (9.375), bars (9.0), vault (8.9) and all-around (36.3). Other HHS contributors included juniors Nicole Cicero, Laura Lysyj, Jaclyn Marangella and Shannon Melick, sophomores Megan Goldschmidt and Kayla Lotierzo and freshmen Erica Reiss, Alyssa Russo and Kelly Weber.
   All 16 girls in the program promoted the camaraderie that propelled this team through the season despite the injuries. Several gymnasts contributed scores and all provided something positive.
   "They were all so willing to do anything I asked," Murrin said. "They had to push themselves every day. I had to plan the workouts and know when to rest them, but it was harder for them than me."
   The Raiders earned their reward with an appearance on the podium and third-place finish in the state.
   "We did really awesome this year," Rhoades said. "I’m proud of it."