South’s start is good, but finish may be great

By Rich Fisher, Sports Editor
   The good are about to get even better.
   The South Brunswick High gymnastics team ran its record to 4-0 last Thursday with an impressive 109.525 to 107.75 victory over South Plainfield.
   The Vikes got off to their undefeated start despite the fact top gymnast Marisa Liptak has been sidelined with an ankle injury and all-arounder Jess Macay has only been able to compete in three events.
   Some of that is about to change.
   ”Our team score is exceptionally great, especially without having Jess on bars and Marisa not competing,” coach Mindy Verderami said. “But I have a feeling the best is yet to come this season and I can’t wait to see what it brings us.
   ”Marisa got her boot off last Wednesday, and is cleared to compete bars. So we hope to have her compete on them (today, Thursday). Then she will be fully cleared by Tuesday.”
   In the meantime, the efforts of juniors Macay and Shannon Martin and freshman sensation Lindsay Carbone have kept South Brunswick humming along. Against South Plainfield, Martin posted the second best all-around score in school history with a 37.075, and Carbone was second at 36.9.
   Verderami has been especially impressed with the job Macay has done despite competing with a wrist injury.
   ”Jess Macay has done absolutely amazing on the three events she is able to compete on,” the coach said. “She posted her highest scores ever on floor two times in a row, plus, her highest vault scores ever. She has always been consistently strong on beam and will always be our go-to person there.”
   Verderami points out that by adding Macay’s average bars score from last year of 9.1, to her South Plainfield scores, it would have been a 37.325, which would have put her second all-time.
   ”This is amazing,” the coach exclaimed. “She is really stepping it up this season on the events she can compete on, helping the team out where she can. She is so beautiful to watch on beam and floor, I will always remember her routines, even when she isn’t competing for SBHS anymore.”
   It also sounds like this season is shaping up as one that’s truly memorable.