MHS gymnastics makes first trip to states

Cougars fourth in strong sectional

By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
  Montgomery High has sent gymnasts to the state championship meet before, but never its whole team.
   For the first time in school history, the Cougars have qualified for the state championship meet as a team. There have been Cougars to qualify as individuals in the past, but this will be the first time the team goes to the meet to compete.
   Montgomery will compete in the team competition, which begins on Saturday with the march-in at 10:55 a.m. at Hunterdon Central.
   ”It’s really exciting,” said sophomore Laura Ng, who will compete on vault, bars and floor. “Last year we just missed getting in. We were the 11th team. This year we came back stronger and really wanted to make the states. Everyone is really excited to make it.
   ”Last year, Erin (Simon) made it and everyone went to support her. But it’s different when you’re the only one from your team competing.”
   This year, Simon, Jackie Violette and Emily Wang will compete all around. Ng will compete in three events, while senior Bridget O’Brien will compete on beam.
   The Cougars reached the state finals after a fourth-place finish in the Central Jersey 2 sectional. The top team in each of the four sectionals qualified for states, as well as the next six best team scores as wildcards. The Cougars finished with a score of 110.375.
   ”We were in a really hard sectional,” Montgomery coach Johanna Snedeker said. “We were in with Hillsborough, which is the No. 1 team in the state, and also in with Hunterdon Central, which is No. 3. And both of those teams are in our conference.
   ”Erin had a terrific meet. She was first on vault and on floor. She had a great day and did amazingly well. I’m happy for her and the seniors that have worked so hard. They had a couple years on the old floor before we got to where we are now. They know the difference with how it was when we had to set up and take everything down each day. The see the difference with the environment we have now. So I’m very happy for Erin, Elizabeth (Snedeker) and Bridget (O’Brien). They know where we have come from, so to get to states is very exciting.”
   Ng and the rest of the Cougars feel that by having competed regularly against some of the best teams in the state, they’re certainly prepared for the level of competition they’ll see on Saturday.
   ”We have a lot of the stronger teams in our conference, so it makes for a very competitive season,” Ng said. “We all get to know each other and it’s good competition. On our team, we have a lot of depth. We have four girls that can compete all-around and a few others that are strong in two or three events. It is a lot of fun. It gives everyone an opportunity to be part of the team.”
   The Cougars will need to put up a big score to move up in the team standings. They come into the meet with the ninth best team score, but could certainly move higher in the final standings.
   ”Our score was 110.375 and we have hit that before,” Snedeker said. “But when you get into the higher levels of competition, the higher scores are tougher to get. So we have been adding some things and tweaking some of our routines. I hope they’re ready.”
   Ng is part of a deep group of Montgomery gymnasts. And that depth, along with the competition they’ve faced all year, has put the Cougars into the state finals for the first time.
   ”(Snedeker) has been telling us all season that we have the hardest conference and the hardest section,” Ng said. “I think it has helped prepare us. I think for Saturday, everyone is excited that we made it and we will all give it our all.”
p>