Lack of a full arsenal hurts Viking gymnastics team against Bishop Ahr

By Rich Fisher, Sports Writer
   Going against Bishop Ahr without one of your top gymnasts is like Superman against Lex Luthor without his X-ray vision, Batman against the Joker without his utility belt or Spiderman against the Green Goblin without his Spidey Sense.
   You may put up a good fight, but it’s an unwinnable one without a full arsenal of weapons.
   That was the plight of the South Brunswick High gymnastics team last Thursday, as it took on the state’s top program without sophomore all-around state qualifier Shannon Martin (shoulder injury).
   The result was still a solid score, but not quite enough to finally beat the Trojans, who took a 111.075 to 103.05 victory.
   ”We still had a very respectable score,” coach Mindy Verderami said. “Shannon got taken out at the beginning of warm-ups. We were debating back and forth, but her shoulder was still sore.
   ”That’s why we have alternates, and our alternates did a very good job. We put Dana Vasers in on vault, Ilana Berger on bars, Tori Kubick on beam and Adrienne Greco on floor. They ended up flipping the switch, turning it on and doing the best they could.”
   At this point of the season, the Vikings do not want to risk further injury to Martin. Verderami is looking at the big picture — which is the Greater Middlesex Conference Championships.
   ”In retrospect, we knew it would hurt the team keeping Shannon out,” Verderami said. “But we are more concerned with beating them in the GMC’s. We’re trying to get up to them, if not beat them when it counts, when it means more. We want a good record and we want to do the best we can, but we’re also trying to keep everybody healthy.
   ”We’re looking forward to having her healthy for the GMC’s, and we’ll do whatever it takes to get her there.”
   The loss could not diminish the effort of Jess Macay, who stepped to the forefront for her team by finishing third in all-around with a score of 35.775. The sophomore had a 9.125 on beam (3rd place), 8.4 on vault, 9.0 on bars (4th) and 9.25 on floor (4th).
   ”She’s been doing fantastic, she’s really turned it on this season,” Verderami said. “I am very proud of her.
   ”She’s come in and started the season with a positive attitude, and it’s showing in her performance. She’s scoring the scores that she wants to be scoring. I’m very happy with her results and I am looking forward to seeing how the rest of the season turns out for her.”
   Another gymnast to watch is Jenna Mayfield, who is being groomed as the squad’s fourth all-around performer along with Macay, Martin and Marissa Liptak.
   Mayfield had a 31.325 all-around score against Bishop Ahr, thanks to an 8.05 (vault), 7.2 (bars), 7.95 (beam) and 8.125 (floor).
   ”I wouldn’t be surprised if she’ll start competing in all-around,” Verderami said. “We tried it (last) Tuesday and liked how it turned out, so we look to try and continue that.”
   As for the remainder of the scores against Bishop Ahr, Liptak was fourth in all-around with a 35.725. She won beam with a 9.475, and also scored 8.75 on vault (5th), 9.0 on bars (3rd) and 9.3 on floor (3rd).
   Other scores were: Vault: Vasers, 7.7, Rebekah Clavin 8.0; bars: Berger 5.35, Clavin 6.75; beam: Kubick 6.25, Chelsea Reilly 8.175; floor: Greco, 7.45, Amanda Klein, 7.275.
   ”Considering they stepped in 15 minutes before the meet started, the alternates did a nice job,” Verderami said.
   BACKFLIPS: The loss of Martin continued to effect the Vikes on Tuesday, as Old Bridge stunned South Brunswick with a 104.475 to 102.725 victory. That left both teams at 2-2. Liptak won all-around (36.25) and vault (9.15), took second in bars (8.95) and floor (9.275) and fourth on beam (8.875). Macay was third in all-around (36.25), winning beam (9.3), taking third on floor (9.2), sixth on vault (8.1) and seventh on bars (7.335). Mayfield was fourth all-around (30.875) with a fifth on vault (8.15), seventh on bars (7.325) and sixth on beam (7.65). Adrienne Greco had an eighth on floor (7.875).