Ashley Montgomery took over as the coach of the Freehold Township High School girls’ gymnastics program in 2017.
And under its new leader, Freehold Township is the best gymnastic team in New Jersey for a second straight year.
On Nov. 8 at Montgomery High School, the Patriots wrapped up their second consecutive NJSIAA team championship.
Freehold Township posted a record score for the event, 113.35, to finish first out of 10 teams.
Freehold Township edged Saint John Vianney High School by 0.975.
The previous record was a 113.1, set by Freehold High School in 2011.
Four Freehold Township gymnasts, sisters Alexis Rogers and Julia Rogers, Anna Pagliaro and Jamie Polonet, were integral members of both state title teams.
They are all high level gymnasts outside of high school, ranking as level 10s, the highest level, in the USA Gymnastics program. They also all train together for 30 hours each week at Action Gymnastics in Freehold.
Montgomery will be the first to tell you that she has not done anything special, necessarily, in her two years as Freehold Township’s coach. She just has a bunch of really talented and hard working gymnasts.
“It’s a lot of talented girls on one team. A very strong team. Other schools may only have one or two of these girls. We are lucky to have multiple of them,” Montgomery said. “They are also together like 24/7. They are so close and are a family.”
The Patriots also added another level 10 gymnast in 2018, freshman Jenelle Cloud, who trains with her teammates for 30 hours a week at Action Gymnastics.
“How gymnastics works, really, is girls start young at club gyms, then join in high school,” Montgomery said. “They are high level gymnasts who will progress to college as well.”
While in high school on the same team, though, the girls complement each other. They are all strong all around gymnasts, but they also specialize in different events.
Alexis Rogers excels on the bars. Polonet won the balance beam event at the 2017 NJSIAA Central Jersey, Section 1 meet. She finished second on the beam in the 2018 sectional meet and in the 2018 state championship.
Julia Rogers moves like a ballet dancer on the floor.
“Everyone watches her,” Montgomery said.
Cloud is very similar.
“She really stands out on the floor,” Montgomery said. “She’s a great dancer with great crowd appeal.”
Pagliaro is the most balanced, versatile member of the team. Montgomery can count on her to excel in any event.
“Anna is a great all around gymnast. She’s also very, very consistent,” Montgomery said. “I can’t pick one event she stands out on.”
Alexis Rogers and Polonet shined in the state championship. Alexis Rogers scored a 9.65 on the vault, the highest total of any gymnast in the event. Polonet placed second on the uneven bars and on the beam, with a 9.62 and a 9.57, respectively.
The amazing thing for Montgomery and Freehold Township is that four of their five primary gymnasts will be back for multiple years. Alexis Rogers is the only senior in the group.
Pagliaro, Polonet and Julia Rogers are only sophomores. Those three and Cloud should be able to maintain Freehold Township’s high standard in 2019.
“We hope to three peat,” Montgomery said. “That’s our goal.”