Freehold Township represents the last major hurdle for the Howell High School gymnastics team to clear during the dual-meet season. The two teams will meet Friday at Freehold Township (4:30 p.m.)
The Rebels (3-0) are vaulting toward a third consecutive Shore Conference A North Division crown and the up-and-coming Patriots are their last obstacle to overcome.
Howell scored a season-high 108.5 points in its win over previously undefeated Colts Neck (104.578).
State champion Austyn Fobes and state place-winner Briana Ecklof led the effort as they always seem to do. Fobes scored an impressive 9.7 on the uneven bars, the event she won the state title on last year.
The return of Alexa DeCanino, who missed last year with an injury, gives Howell three outstanding all-around competitors. DeCanino was first on the balance beam (9.05) in Howell’s home win against Colts Neck.
Behind them, freshmen Monet Masters and Theresa Gagliano, Kellie Bresz and Holly Miller give Howell a very deep squad.
Freehold Township counters with three strong all-arounders in Nicole Frietas, Meagan Knauf and Lindsay Gordon. They’ve helped the Pats score as high as 107 this year and that makes them a definite threat to Howell. The Pats are 3-1 in the division and need to win to have a chance at sharing the title.
Frietas, a sophomore, and juniors Knauf and Gordon (who had a back injury last year and has returned to the form she had as a freshman) are a very experienced trio. All three have qualified for the postseason championship meets in the AA.
Katie Wilk, also a junior, could give the Pats four gymnasts qualifying for the SC tournament.
Freehold Township also looks to co-captains Carli Rosen and Justine Janczewski and Andraea Acampora to get points.
Last year, the Pats burst onto the scene with dual-meet wins over Colts Neck and Marlboro on the way to qualifying for the Shore Conference and Central Jersey championship meets
Both Howell and Freehold Township will have interesting nonconference meets later in the month.
Freehold Township will take on crosstown rival Freehold Borough, which is also undefeated, on the 21st at home The Colonials (6-0) have been scoring in the 105 range, as they look to win the B North title.
Howell is slated to take on Red Bank Catholic on the 23rd in Howell. RBC has been the Rebels nemesis in the SC and Central Jersey meets the last two years, and this dual meet could be a prelude to those championship meets this year.