Red Bank Catholic (RBC) High School’s Ally Cucich performs on the uneven bars at the NJSIAA Individual Gymnastics Championships Nov. 14 at Montgomery High School. Cucich finished fifth in the all-around. On Nov. 12, she helped RBC win its second straight team championship. DORINE SHAPIRO Led by Red Bank Catholic (RBC) High School and St. John Vianney High School’s Kristen Politz, the NJSIAA Gymnastics Championships were a tour de force for the Shore Conference.
RBC captured its second straight team title Nov. 12, leading a top-three sweep by Shore Conference teams, while Politz captured the all-around title Nov. 14. Both meets were held at Montgomery High School.
The Caseys had to again hold off the challenge of a St. John Vianney team that got stronger each week. RBC, which has been the top team in the state all year, completed their sweep of the championship meets (conference and Central Jersey Section I) with a team score of 112.925 — just ahead of the Lancers’ total of 112.650. Third place went to Colts Neck High School (110.800).
In all, five teams from the Shore qualified for the team competition.
Ocean Township High School was eighth (105.725), and Howell finished 10th (105.025).
Steady Ally Cucich and Sierra Garcia helped RBC win the title with their all-around performances at the team championships.
At the individual championships, Penn State University-bound Politz put the finishing touches on her extraordinary year. The Lancers’ senior, who previously won the conference and state sectional allaround titles, added the prestigious NJSIAA all-around championship to her high school résumé.
In this meet, it was Politz’s teammate, Arianna Agrapides, who provide the strongest competition.
Politz’s 38.525 score slightly edged Agrapides’ 38.500 by a scant.
The Shore again went top three with Marlboro High School’s Melissa Astarita finishing third (38.200).
Also from the Shore, Cucich was fifth (37.900), Garcia placed eighth (37.650) and Howell High School’s Monica Servidio came in 10th (37.600).
In addition to her all-around crown, Politz also won the state title on the floor exercise with a 9.800 score for her routine. Politz tied for second with Agrapides on the vault (9.725).
Agrapides shared the uneven bars championship with Bishop George Ahr High School’s Ariyana Agarwala. Their routines brought them both a score of 9.650.
Astarita gave conference gymnasts another state victory as she won the vault with a score of 9.750.