By Rich Fisher, Sports Editor
In the first big test of the year, the South Brunswick High gymnastics team got its first big dose of excitement.
In fact, head coach Mindy Verderami was downright giddy when it was all over, as she admitted to “glowing.”
”This is exciting,” the first-year head coach said. “It’s awesome to be starting off this way.”
Verderami’s excitement stemmed from the Vikings’ performance at the prestigious Pioneer Classic at Somerville High School last Saturday. South Brunswick finished in third place with a score of 108.6, which is its highest score ever at this event.
The Vikes trailed just Hillsborough (110.795) and Bishop Ahr (110.625) in the final team standings, and proved they can hang with them. A total of eight teams competed, with some of the top talent in the state on hand.
Adding to the excitement is that junior Marissa Liptak won all-around, breaking her own school record with a score of 37.5.
”The team score wasn’t our team record, but it’s great to do this so early in the season,” Verderami said. “I had a lot of confidence in them going into the meet. The way they practiced on Friday they were very focused on preparing themselves, and they felt prepared.
”We got there early, so, we were able to sit and relax, take some time stretching. We went at a very comfortable pace to get ready.”
Liptak was phenomenal in winning beam (9.525), finishing third on floor (9.55), fourth on bars (9.275) and getting a 9.15 on vault. Her vault score is a personal best at both the high school and club level, and the closest Greater Middlesex Conference competitor to her in all-around was Bishop Ahr’s Nicole Schwartz.
”For her to get her personal best in all-around in the second meet of the season is just amazing,” Verderami said. “She had her best high school meet ever and she set the bar for the GMC All-Around Competition (in October).”
”It all came from her work ethic at practice. From day one, she has been focused and determined, and (Saturday) she did everything she set out to do. I couldn’t be more proud of her.
”Her leadership and her work ethic in and out of practice paid off and I couldn’t ask anything more from her. She is a coach’s dream because she always comes to practice with a great attitude, and she has made my transition as the new head coach an easy one.”
The best news for the Vikings, is that Liptak wasn’t the only good news at the Pioneer Classic.
South Brunswick actually went 1-2 on beam, as Jess Macay took second with a 9.25. Other beam scores came from Shannon Martin (8.225), Jenna Mayfield (6.925) and Chelsea Reilly (6.625).
”Beam has always been our nemesis,” Verderami said. “So for us to take 1-2 is really exciting.”
Martin took sixth on vault (9.35), while Macay had an 8.5, Mayfield an 8.2 and Dana Vasers an 8.125.
Macay had a fourth place on floor (9.375) and was followed by teammates Martin (8.65), Amanda Klein (8.05) and Adrienne Greco (7.4). Macay took seventh on bars (9.0), followed by Martin (8.75), Rebekah Clavin (6.8) and Ilana Berger (5.6).
In all-around, Macay finished seventh with a 36.225, which is her personal best in high school competition. And, despite tweaking her shoulder, Martin was 10th all-around in 34.975.
”Her shoulder popped on her during floor, and she still scored an 8.65 despite having a fall,” Verderami said. “She fell on something she normally never falls on, so without that it’s a 9.15 score.
”She was upset, but I told her afterward that she’s a true gymnast. She finished her routine from the time she made a mistake at the beginning, and she didn’t let that crack her. She finished to the best of her ability.”
The one bummer from the meet is that Martin may miss today’s huge dual meet with Bishop Ahr, depending on how the shoulder feels.
The Trojans, of course, have dominated not just the GMC, but the state during this first decade of the 21st century. Still, Verderami is more concerned about going after Bishop Ahr in the GMC meet and wants to make sure her prized sophomore is fully healthy for that.
Aside from Martin’s injury, it was all good stuff.
”Our freshmen had a few nerves because it was their first big meet,” the coach said. “But Adrienne Greco increased her score on floor from our Piscataway meet, and Dana Vasers competed on vault instead of floor and started her career with an 8.25, which is very high for the first time.”
Verderami feels the Vikings strong showing and Liptak’s performance will give the program some widespread positive recognition, and she could not be happier with how the team has adapted to her as she takes over for Erika Casey.
”The leadership of my three captains has made this transition so easy,” she said of Liptak and seniors Arielle Lopez and Chelsea Reilly. “I couldn’t ask them to be better leaders than they are.”
And they are leading a team with a lot of talent.
And helping a coach who’s not afraid to show a lot of excitement when warranted.
BACKFLIPS: The Vikings competed in a tri meet Tuesday and easily defeated South Plainfield and South River. SBHS amassed a score of 90.675 without competing any of its club gymnasts. Mayfield had a big meet with two firsts and two thirds, which enabled her to win all-around with a 30.95.
SBHS scores from each event are as follows:
Vault: Clavin 8.15 (1st), Vasers 8.1 (2nd), Mayfield 8.075 (3rd), Greco 7.7 (5th), Berger 7.35 (6th).
Bars: Mayfield 7.175 (1st), Clavin 6.45 (2nd), Vasers 6.05 (3rd), Berger 4.675 (4th), Lopez 3.475 (5th)
Beam: Reilly 8.075 (1st), Mayfield 7.55 (3rd), Amanda Klein 7.125 (4th), Vasers 6.25 (5th), Lopez 5.975 (7th)
Floor: Mayfield 8.15 (1st), Klein 8.05 (3rd), Greco 7.75 (place), Tori Kubick 7.65 (5th).

