Howell High School’s gymnastics team wanted to do it all this year, and they have.
By all, the Rebels meant getting to Friday’s NJSIAA Gymnastics Team Championship at Hunterdon Central High School. To get there, the Rebels made some history Saturday, capturing the Central Jersey Section I championship held at Manalapan High School for the first time.
Led again by the one-two combo of Austyn Fobes and Brianna Ecklof, the Rebels scored 111.325 points in topping Freehold Borough (108.875) and rival and defending champion Red Bank Catholic (108.175).
Fobes repeated as the state sectional all-around queen, scoring 38.875. Ecklof was runner-up at 37.775. They were onetwo at last week’s Shore Conference Championship, which was also won by Howell.
This was Howell’s third title of the year, going alongside the Shore Conference A North Division and SC titles previously won.
“The girls had an amazing meet,” said coach Jenn Hier. “Our goal as a team was to get to the states, so we are all very excited to get to Hunterdon on Friday and do what they do best.”
Howell began its run to the Central Jersey title on the vault, where Fobes, Ecklof and Monet Masters all had strong routines.
Fobes finished second on the vault (9.650), and Ecklof was fourth (9.400). Masters was 10th (9.100).
On the uneven bars, the Rebels can always count on Fobes, the state champion on this event, to put up a good score. Fobes won the bars with a routine that scored 9.725. Ecklof scored 9.125 in third place, and the team’s third scorer was Kristin Murray (7.900).
The team score wasn’t as high as expected, but the Rebels more than made up for it on the tricky balance beam.
“They came back on the balance beam and hit all their skills,” said Hier. “Alexa DeCanio pulled off a gorgeous routine, and Austyn and Brianna had the best routines I have seen them perform this season.”
Fobes and Ecklof went one-two on the beam, with Fobes scoring 9.725 and Ecklof 9.575.
Howell saved its best for last, dominating the floor exercise. Fobes (9.775) and Ecklof (9.675) were again one-two, giving Fobes three individual titles to go with her all-around crown.
“All of the girls who performed had wonderful routines,” noted Hier. “Alexa DeCanio and Monet Masters as well as Meghan Grothues, Holly Miller and Kellie Bresz all performed extremely well, paving the way for Austyn and Brianna to complete their routines.
“Austyn and Brianna had nearly flawless routines scoring in the 9.7 range,” she added.
Howell, Hier said, will go to Hunterdon Central with the same attitude it has all year.
“We take every meet one event at a time,” she explained. “We go out there and do what they do best: perform and have fun.”
On Saturday the state individual championship will be contested, and Fobes, whose 39.00 scoring during the season is the best in the state, is certainly one of the favorites. If she comes through, she will join ex-Rebel Dawn Campbell as the only Freehold District gymnasts to win the state all-around title.
Freehold Borough is headed to Friday’s team championships as well. The Colonials’ team score was good enough to join the field of 10.
Danielle Verdon and Nicole Panzarino were the Colonials] one-two tandem. Verdon was fourth in the AA (36.475) and Panzarino was sixth (36.350). Alex Puntolillo was 11th (35.650) and Lindsey Gumann was 13th (35.300).
Colts Neck was sixth on Saturday (103.925), led by Kelsey Hoffbauer, who was eighth in the AA (35.975). Sam Pecoraro was fifth on the beam (9.200) for the Cougars.
Marlboro (102.525) and Freehold Township (100.600) were seventh and eighth.
Nicolette Vignola had the best finish for the Mustangs, a seventh on the floor exercise (9.200).
Nicole Frietas, seventh in the allaround (36.325), led the Pats.
Gymnasts with top-five finishes at the sectional meets advanced to the Individual State Championship on Saturday. Anyone who scored a 36.00 or above in the AA at the sectionals, regardless of their place, also qualified for the state meet.
Unlike previous years, there will be no carrying over of scores from the team championships on Friday to the individual competition on Saturday. Everyone in the all-around will start with a clean slate.