Onderko aids sectional effort
By Justin Feil, The Packet Group
One year after significant graduation losses, the addition of Natalie Onderko has helped the Hillsborough High School gymnastics team remain among the state’s finest.
The sophomore placed fourth in the all-around and won the bars to help the Raiders place second in Central Jersey Section 2 on Saturday at Hillsborough.
”I think we did amazing,” Onderko said. “Our team came together a lot, and we all hit mostly 4-for-4. We had some little mistakes, but it’s nothing we can’t fix for states.”
The Raiders compete in the team states 6 p.m. tonight at Montgomery High School, then will vie for individual state titles 11 a.m. Saturday at Montgomery.
”It definitely boosted our confidence coming in second,” Onderko said. “We all support each other so much. Our motivation rises so much every practice. Every practice we get more and more excited.”
Onderko is also getting healthier with each day, though she estimates she was only 60 percent recovered from a severely sprained ankle suffered in September when she competed at sectionals.
”I’m still fighting my way to come back,” Onderko said. “Floor and vault have been a really big challenge for me. I’m trying to put together start values so I can at least compete and get scores for the team.”
Onderko did plenty for the Raiders in the sectionals. Her 36.3 score was good for fourth in the all-around and qualified her for the state individuals.
”I was just praying I could have enough to qualify,” Onderko said. “I didn’t think I’d be up that high in the rankings for all-around because there are so many other girls that are amazing. And mostly some of them are my teammates.”
Onderko was second on the beam with a score of 9.425 and won the bars with a 9.5.
”That was the first time I competed my release and connection all together,” Onderko said of her bars routine. “I was so proud of myself. It was such a big accomplishment for me. It was the first significant thing that I could contribute to the team since I was battling an injury. I’m starting to push through and show more of my skills. I was really happy.”
Onderko has given the Raiders a big lift. She didn’t come out for the team last year, but has been a welcome addition.
”Natalie had an ankle injury all season,” said Raiders head coach Beth Murrin. “She finally started turning the corner. She finished first on bars and second on beam, and she tumbled for the first time Saturday morning. It went as well as could be. She got an 8.925 on floor which helped us.”
Sarah Pallay was sixth in the all-around with a score of 36.1. The sophomore was third in vault with a 9.475 and won the floor exercises with a 9.675, the highest score awarded any event Saturday.
”Sarah Pallay, who we’ve been depending on all season, she’s been the rock and the scoring leader,” Murrin said. “Floor and vault, she was lights out awesome and finished first and third.”
Kira Solt also was an individual qualifier. The freshman placed eighth in the all-around with a score of 36.025. The trio led the way for the Raiders.
”The other kid that was awesome was Kira Solt,” Murrin said. “She’s been competing all events for us but hasn’t been as consistent. She got over a 36 for the first time. We counted all four of her scores into our team total. She, Natalie and Sarah all got over 36 and go to states individually.”
It will be the first trip to states for Onderko, who is enjoying her first year of high school gymnastics. She has been doing gymnastics since she was 3, and in eighth grade took a big step with the sport when she was home-schooled to put more time into her passion.
”I wanted to do more hours, and I didn’t have enough time in the day,” she said. “It was school or gymnastics and I picked gymnastics.
”I think I gained a lot from my coach, especially because it was 1-on-1 training. My body got more built and I was capable of doing so much more.”
Onderko still competes for Indigo Gymnastics in New Providence, but now has added a high school commitment. She has taken that year of intense training and built on it to make herself into a high level gymnast for the Raiders.
”It has been so much fun,” Onderko said. “I’m so lucky I’ve been able to be a part of the team. Our bond between the girls, it’s like a family. We support each other even outside of gymnastics.”
Hillsborough has stuck together through a trying season. They have lost contributors along the way to injury, but still placed second in both the Somerset County and Skyland Conference Championships. Now they have added a runner-up finish at sectionals.
”There were points in the season no matter how much we were battling I didn’t know if we could make another run,” Murrin said. “No matter how hard kids are working, some things are out of your control.”
Onderko has done her best to return to the team from her ankle injury that could take six months to heal fully. She still feels it in competition, particularly the floor and vault, which takes power and it’s been difficult for her to run.
”I kind of block it out when I’m competing,” Onderko said. Onderko is just one of the gymnasts for the Raiders who have shown a new level of determination to remain one of the best in the state with their usual great depth.
”It’s not that their gymnastics had to change, but their mental fortitude had to be better,” Murrin said. “We had to mentally stronger than we’ve been in past years. The whole team, all 17 girls, are on board with putting the team first. Saturday was a complete representation of that. They enjoyed the whole process start to finish. As a coach, you enjoy being there with them.”
And she will enjoy seeing them compete one more time together at the state meet. It’s a chance for a big finish to their year.
”Our girls have added more skills together that we’ve been saving up for these bigger meets,” Onderko said. “We had a rough Raider Invitational. A lot of people got hurt. Now people are bouncing back quick and I think we’re going to do better than we did last year. I feel really confident about states.”