Thanks to a talented group of freshmen, the Howell High School gymnastics team became one of the best in the state in 2013.
Sparked by Monica Servidio, who finished fifth in the all-around competition at the NJSIAA Individual Championships, Howell reclaimed the Shore Conference A North Division crown during the dual meet season. The Rebels seemed to gain momentum with each meet, and when the championships came around, they were in peak form. They were fourth at the Shore Conference, third in NJSIAA Central Jersey Section I with their best score of the season (108.20) and qualified for the state championships, where they finished ninth.
With just one senior and four freshmen, the sky would seem the limit for this Howell team.
Freehold High School, which had been the area’s dominant team, was beset by injuries all year. The Colonials still remained one of the state’s best, producing one of the year’s highest scores, 109.8. They were led by senior veteran Jenna Crisalli, who qualified for the state championships with Servidio.
Colts Neck High School and Marlboro High School were good enough to qualify as teams for the Central Jersey Section I meet, where they placed sixth and seventh.
Servidio and Crisalli head Greater Media Newspapers’ News Transcript 2013 All- Freehold Regional High School District (FRHSD) Gymnastics Team. With them on the squad are Colts Neck’s Sophie Garito, Freehold Township High School’s Samantha Gormley and Howell’s Abigail Schwerdt.
Servidio had one of the great first-year campaigns ever as a freshman. Her head coach, Jenn Hier, praised Servidio’s “attitude and work ethic.” She also has the “ability to increase her skill level.” That’s not such good news for those who will be going up against her the next couple of years.
Servidio excelled when it mattered most at the championship meets. At the conference championships, the Rebels’ standout was third in the all-around (37.450) and champion on the balance beam (9.550). She moved up to second place in the all-around at the state sectional, scoring 37.625. She was second on the floor exercise. At the state championships, she came up with her best score of the year, 37.875, which was good for fifth place. She was the runner-up on the beam with a routine that scored 9.575. The freshman was sixth on the floor and 10th on the bars at the state meet.
The New Jersey Girls’ Gymnastics Coaches Association named Servidio to its New Jersey All-State Team for the all-around.
Crisalli, an important member of the Colonials’ 2011 state championship team, had a fine senior year, qualifying for the state individual championships in the allaround. The Colonials’ gymnast was seventh in the Shore Conference (36.950) and fifth on the uneven bars and floor exercise. At the state sectional, she was fifth in the all-around and had third-place finishes on the floor and bars. At the individual state championships, her best event was the floor exercise, where she finished seventh. Crisalli had the best all-around score in the district this year, 38.075.
It was the year of the freshmen in the district, and they all weren’t Rebels. Garito, also a freshman, helped the Cougars qualify for the state sectional with her all-around performances. She was 12th in the allaround at the conference meet (36.125) and sixth in Central Jersey Section I (36.050). Her 36.050 was good enough to qualify for the individual state championships, where she gained valuable experience for next year.
Gormley enjoyed an outstanding fouryear career at Freehold Township. This fall, she was 17th in the all-around at the conference meet and 13th at the state sectional (35.40). Her season’s best all-around was 36.0.
Schwerdt had a superb debut season as well. One of the four freshmen who played such a key role for Howell, she was one of the area’s best all-around gymnasts. She placed 15th in the conference and 10th in the state sectional (35.825) in the allaround. Like her teammates, she gained immeasurable experience in the pressure cooker of state competition.
Student-athletes who have earned All- FRHSD honorable mention recognition for their performances during the 2013 season are Triniti Barron of Colts Neck, Maria Cusanelli and Arah Godbole of Freehold, and Breanna Ray of Howell.