HILLSBOROUGH: Pallay has big day at state gymnastics

By Justin Feil, The Packet Group
   Sarah Pallay felt overwhelmed by the sea of talent at the state gymnastics championships, not realizing just how close to the top she would rise.
   ”I was just sitting there watching everyone,” said the Hillsborough High School junior. “There were amazing girls and they have amazing skills.”
   Pallay enjoyed her finest showing of her career when she scored a personal-record 37.875 for fourth place all-around Saturday. Holmdel’s Julianna Drapkin won with a score of 38.0. Pallay also took second on beam with a 9.65, second only to Ramapo’s Samantha Marion, who scored 9.7. And Pallay was third on floor with a 9.5.
   ”She had a phenomenal meet,” said Raiders head coach Beth Murrin. “She got personal bests on bars, beams and in the all-around, which is really difficult to do at that meet because it’s a four-judge panel and it’s such a competitive meet. They have to be more critical. To get three personal bests is incredible.
   ”The pressure is off there. A kid like Sarah doesn’t have to worry if she’ll disappoint someone else. The pressure feels a little less so you can go out and compete a little more freely. It was a fun meet.”
   The Raiders felt the pressure more on Thursday at the team state championships, where they still placed fourth to cap one of the best seasons in program history. Hillsborough was unbeaten through the regular season and won the Raider Invitational, Somerset County Tournament and Skyland Conference Tournament. They had hoped to add a state title.
   ”Thursday as a team, we didn’t have the perfect day,” Pallay said. “I think we all know that. We’re all still extremely happy with how the meet turned out. I don’t think we could ask for a better season. No matter what happened on Thursday, they can’t take away from the season we had. Although it might not be the perfect ending, we’re all extremely happy with how it went.”
   The Raiders scored 27.450 on vault, 26.050 on bars, 27.325 on beam and 28.025 on floor for 108.850 points. Red Bank Catholic won with 111.925.
   ”Thursday we did exactly what we were capable of doing on vault, beam and floor,” Murrin said. “We had a good solid effort on that. The only thing they had wanted to do better on was bars. That’s an event that’s been a strength for us. There are so many talented teams, you have to do your best.”
   In the whirlwind of the team meet, the Raiders were right in the thick of things. In the team championships, Pallay scored best on vault with 9.375, Kira Solt had a 9.175, Kelly Brady scored 8.900 and Alyssa Fodera scored 8.250. On bars, Pallay had a 9.025, Solt scored 8.625, Natalie Onderko scored 8.400 and Fodera had 8.375.
   ”We didn’t start off the meet to the best we knew we could,” Pallay said. “After bars, we hit a point where we were like, this isn’t going exactly how we planned, and we wanted to finish off the meet like we could, and we did. We hit what we wanted on the last two. It was important to end on a good note.”
   Pallay led the beam with 9.375, Onderko had 9.050, Solt had 8.900 and Grace Tutunjian scored 8.100. Pallay led the floor exercise with 9.750, Grace Dinunzi scored 9.175, Solt had 9.100 and Fodera had 8.400.
   ”We all had a little bit of nerves going it,” Pallay said. “I think that might have affected us in our early performances. It’s hard to avoid nerves when you go in as the second seed and everyone wants to do well.
   ”In a meet like that, you don’t know what’s going on,” she added. “You can’t focus on what everyone else is doing. You have to focus on what you’re doing. It’s hard to keep track of your own team’s score.”
   The Raiders had scored higher throughout the season, and it was that regular season that established sky-high standards for the state meet.
   ”They’re still happy with how they did this season,” Murrin said. “Nothing we did that night defines our season. It’s defined by the whole body of work. It was a great group of girls that had good chemistry. We all enjoyed the season.
   ”We’re sad to part ways with each other and to know we have to wait another eight months to get together. I think they carry that sense of pride and accomplishment for their teammates.”
   With just two seniors in the regular lineup, the Raiders figure to return strong again next year. They can build on another season that was right there among the best in program history.
   ”I know we’re not completely at the point where we’re looking at that yet,” Murrin said. “We have a good team coming back. The freshmen were able to compete well and will be able to contribute. And Natalie did well seven months after knee surgery. She competed in two events, and she can impact in four events. There’s hope for the future.
   ”2010 and this year were very similar in that we were undefeated through the dual meet season and won all the tournaments we entered. At states, we finished second. This year, we finished fourth. Those were comparable.”
   Individually, Pallay will have a chance to return and try to improve on her own personal-best finish. She was the lone Raider competitor to finish in the top five at the individual states. The entire HHS team comes to cheer on its qualifiers and they were treated to a stellar showing by Pallay.
   ”Individual states is a lot more relaxing for me,” Pallay said. “I’m able to take a deep breath and it’s the last meet of the season and just have fun. I wanted to do well and it wasn’t the end of the world if I didn’t. I was really happy with how Saturday went.
   ”It exceeds it,” she added of her expectations. “I did not expect this at all. I couldn’t even wish to have a season like this.”
   Of all the events, it was the bars that stood out for her. She was fifth, but scored 9.425.
   ”I was pretty happy with bars,” she said. “It is not my strongest event by far. I always really struggle with bars. I hit my routine pretty well. I was amazed by the score. I don’t usually score like that on bars.”
   Pallay made a significant jump all-around from last year when she wasn’t in the top 10 at individuals. She has grown into a strong gymnast capable of competing with anyone in the state, even if their skills awe her. She has improved her routines significantly to contend.
   ”I definitely upgraded quite a bit,” Pallay said. “And form-wise, I cleaned up a lot and I got more confident. That’s the main difference from last year.”
   Pallay’s fourth-place finish matched that of her sister, Rachel, who also placed fourth as a junior in the state individuals. Pallay has a year to try to move up in the standings.
   ”Of course, it gives me a little taste of success and I want to keep going,” she said. “I’ll keep working hard in the offseason and we’ll see what next year brings.”