Servidio, Astarita leaders of promising gymnastics season

By TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

 Marlboro High School sophomore Melissa Astarita competes on the uneven bars during the Mustangs’ season-opening win over Toms River High School North Sept. 10 in Marlboro. Astarita was the NJSIAA Central/South Jersey Group I all-around champion last season.  STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER ERIC SUCAR Marlboro High School sophomore Melissa Astarita competes on the uneven bars during the Mustangs’ season-opening win over Toms River High School North Sept. 10 in Marlboro. Astarita was the NJSIAA Central/South Jersey Group I all-around champion last season. STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER ERIC SUCAR It would be hard to duplicate what Freehold Regional High School District gymnastics accomplished in 2014, but 2015 could be another dominant one for the area’s girls with most of the key gymnasts returning.

Last season, Howell High School, Marlboro High School and Freehold High School shared the Shore Conference A North Division title, and they figure to battle for the top spot again. Colts Neck High School was the public school B North Division champion.

At the Shore Conference Championships, the district had five of the top nine teams, led by Colts Neck (second) and followed by Howell (sixth), Marlboro (seventh), Freehold (eighth) and Manalapan High School (ninth).

The individual standouts were Howell’s Monica Servidio and Marlboro’s Melissa Astarita.

Servidio won the Shore Conference all-around championship and finished third at the NJSIAA Individual State Championships. She is a junior this year.

Astarita made a big splash as a freshman, winning the Central Jersey Section I all-around title and finishing fifth at the state championship. She and Servidio should again vie for the all-around titles throughout the season.

HOWELL

Howell, which seeks a fourth straight A North title, will rely heavily on Sevidio’s all-around scores. Rebels head coach Jenn Hier pointed out that Servidio is always looking for ways to refine her routines and add more skills to them.

“She continues to perfect her skills and is looking forward to a successful season,” Hier said.

The arrival of freshman Karly Nowak should be a big plus for Howell.

“We are looking forward to seeing what she will bring to the team,” Hier said.

The Rebels may only have one senior, captain Alexis Servidio, but they still have a lot of experience with Liz Moore, Julia Nocks, Nicole Scardaville, Abigail Schwerdt and Shayna Lynn all returning from last season’s championship team.

Key newcomers include Ashley Cutaneo, Annemarie Fleisch, Brianna Flynn, Julia Palace and Danielle Rivelli.

In addition to seeking a fourth straight division title, the Rebels want to qualify as a team for the Shore Conference and state championships.

MARLBORO

Marlboro improved with each meet last year and looks to pick up where the girls left off in 2014.

“Our team is very excited about the upcoming season,” head coach Cathy Pierson said. “They were so excited to be a part of the A North championship last year and are working hard to have that opportunity again. We know it won’t be easy.”

Although a sophomore, Astarita is the clear leader of the Mustangs for more than just her gymnastics talent.

“She continues to amaze us with her incredible skill level and impeccable execution,” Pierson said. “She really inspires her teammates to do their best and raise our team score.”

Astarita broke every Marlboro individual record last fall.

The Mustangs have more than their all-around standout. They are a deep team with Carli Block and freshman Jordyn Zieden-Weber, both very strong all-around gymnasts. Zieden- Weber gives an already strong team even more firepower.

Alicia Zhou, Sam Geris, Dani DeVito and Victoria Varile are all back from last year, adding their solid scores to the team.

Dalia Neuwirth, Mackenzie O’Reilly, Gianna Gomez, Nicollette Santana, Ashley Galiano and Kelly Greenstein complete the 2015 Mustangs.

The first big meet of the A North season takes place Sept. 16 when Marlboro hosts Howell.

FREEHOLD

Freehold has been the district standard bearer the last few years, having won the overall state title in 2011.

Senior Arah Godbole is back, and she is one of the best all-around performers in the conference and state. Head coach Katie Pusz noted that Godbole has added higher-level skills to her routines.

“She is a high-level gymnast and can lead the team toward our goals,” Pusz said.

Behind Godbole, the Colonials have Kelsey Quinn, Isabella Schaffer, Holley Nitsberg and Valerie Randazzo.

“We want to take the sills we had last year and really perfect them this year,” said Pusz, who added that the team goals are to be better than last year and qualify for the conference and state meets.

The Colonials travel to Howell Sept. 29 and then host Marlboro Oct. 13. These meets will play a big role in deciding this year’s division champion.

COLTS NECK

Colts Neck has the potential to be one of the best squads in the state. The Cougars are a very deep team, led by Sophie Garito and Charlotte Haaf.

Garito, a junior, was a state individual championship qualifier last year. She was eighth in the all-around at the conference meet. Haaf, a sophomore, had a great debut season, taking 10th in the all-around at the conference and state sectionals meets.

Samantha Morrison, Marissa Lewandowski and Triniti Barron, who can all compete in the all-around, return.

Completing the Cougars are Shelby Jaffe, Lindsay Press, Zoe Khaitan, Celeste Karcher, Casey Donner, Julia Dalton, Lauren Coppola, Alex Cavanaugh and Lindsay Jaffe.

“The girls look great,” coach Nicole Pandozzi said. “They came into the summer [tryouts] very strong and confident, and I believe that if they keep up their skills and stay healthy, the team can definitely be a contender to make state finals.

“The goal for now is to keep working hard to increase consistency in their routines, but ultimately the team is hoping to place in postseason meets.”

The Cougars’ biggest dual meet is Oct. 13, when they host last year’s conference and state sectional champion Red Bank Catholic High School. This meet will be for the outright B North title won by Red Bank Catholic last year.

MANALAPAN

Manalapan, which was a top 10 team in the conference in 2014, looks to all-around performers Hailey Strieby and Lily Chozick. They placed 18th and 19th in the all-around at the Central Jersey championships.

Rounding out head coach Dorine Shapiro’s 2015 Braves are Julies Fernandes, Caitlin Amen, Austyn Antonelli, Allison Kovacs, Elena Gies, Alexa Ambrosino, Alexis Donahue, Carissa DallaValle, Danielle Byrne and Mary Amen.

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP

Freehold Township High School head coach James St. Angelo looks to a pair of incoming freshmen and five returning sophomores to make the Patriots a team to look for in A North.

Danielle Bellino, Jordan Charles, Sarah Kowalski, Dani Marino and Karissa Parze are the sophomores who gained critical experience last year. Meghan Murphy and Alexis Rogers are the freshmen expected to have an impact.

Also returning are Angie Wood and Lauren Legregin.