By Rich Fisher, Sports Editor
The big news for South Brunswick High’s gymnastics team last Thursday is that superstar senior Marisa Liptak made her first appearance of the high school season and won bars in the Vikings win over South Plainfield.
While that looks good for the big picture, the day itself belonged to some of South Brunswick’s young, less publicized gymnasts as Maddy Anand, Caitlyn Borghi, Dana Vasers and Tori Kubick all made their presence felt in the Vikings 99.875 to 83.175 victory.
Borghi, a freshman, won an event that she just keeps getting better at.
”Caitlyn has always been good at beam and she is becoming great,” coach Mindy Verderami said. “She is pushing herself to increase her level of difficulty throughout her skills, which is helping her scores.
”Caitlyn really fights to stay on the beam every time she does her routines, and never gives up. I really appreciate that. It shows me a lot of drive.”
Dana Vasers drove herself to a couple of medals, taking second on vault and third on bars, where she continues to take her routine up a notch.
”She has always been very clean, but this year, we really needed her to step up her difficulty level,” Verderami said. “She did that and is swinging bars better then I have ever seen her do. Plus, she is very consistent on vault, which is a great characteristic to have as a gymnast.”
The day’s big winner was Maddy Anand. Despite winning all-around by default, as she was the only competitor who did all four events, the freshman put forth some strong efforts at every apparatus and gained a second, third and two fourths.
”Maddy has a lot of talent,” the coach said. “She is doing very well as a freshman and has already qualified for sectionals on two events and is one score away from qualifying on a third.
”She has lots of difficulty in her routines, which is a bonus. Maddy is very determined to be the best, which is fun to watch her fight for.”
The third winner during the day was sophomore Tori Kubick, whose smooth moves gave her high score on floor.
”Tori is a total dancer, and her skills put her at the top on floor,” said Verderami. “She always amazes everyone with her flexibility and extension. Although she doesn’t have bonus high superior tumbling skills, she has at least two to three dance moves where she gets bonus high superior points and high superior points. The judges love watching her dance.”
And while that quality quartet of underclassmen shows plenty of promise for the future, the present became a whole light brighter thanks to Liptak’s return from injury. With the season’s major meets approaching, her presence looms large.
”She is doing well and ready to be back in action on every event,” Verderami said. “She did well on bars and it wasn’t her actual bar routine. We watered it down a bit, but when she does the routine she is going to compete with at GMCs, her score will go up significantly.
”We are very happy to have her back because she has always led by example. Marisa is a true example of what I always say to the team, that you can still be lazy and be good, but in order to be great you have to work hard all the time. Marisa does exactly that – hence the reason she is great.”
And doubly hence the reason Viking hopes are higher than ever.

