When Kathleen Corsentino took over the Old Bridge High School gymnastics team in 2015, the coach did not inherit a popular program.
Old Bridge had only six gymnasts as recently as last fall. But their dedication kept the program going. And their promotion of the program raised awareness and attracted classmates.
Corsentino now boasts 14 gymnasts on her 2018 roster. With so many options, Corsentino can choose girls for the events they excel at. She no longer has to depend on each girl to do almost every event.
Old Bridge is already seeing results from its expanded roster. In high school gymnastics, a team score is an accumulation of a team’s top three scores in each event.
Last year, Old Bridge’s highest team score was a 104.8. This fall, the Knights surpassed that in their second meet, totaling a 104.875.
Old Bridge consistently scored in the 90s in 2017. In 2018, the Knights have broken 100 in all three meets.
“When I took over, there were kids in the high school that didn’t know we had a gymnastics team. Every year our goal is to get recognition and attract attention,” Corsentino said. “The girls who were here did that.”
Senior Jennifer Pasram and junior Gabby Cuce were Corsentino’s best performers last fall. But they had to compete in almost every event in every meet, which wore them out.
“It was exhausting and bodies get beat up,” Corsentino said. “This year we have more options.”
In the offseason, Pasram and Cuce recruited a bunch of quality gymnasts who they knew from local clubs.
Most were rising freshmen but one, Mackenzie Aresta, was a rising junior. She had just never heard of the Old Bridge High School team.
“I found out because some of my old teammates were on the team,” Aresta said.
With eight new girls, Corsentino could actually coach her team, instead of just overseeing their participation in meets.
“This year we have more options, so we’re a little bit more well preserved so far. And the skill level is higher,” Corsentino said. “We’re not just using everything we have in every event. We can specialize and play with our roster.”
Specialization has led to excellence, for the team and its individual standouts. Pasram and Aresta have already qualified for the NJSIAA sectional tournament in various events.
Freshmen Amanda Scheuerman and Kayla O’Connell have also secured spots in the sectional tournament.
Pasram excels on the balance beam and on the floor, scoring in the upper eights and even in the nines sometimes.
Corsentino calls Aresta “a little powerhouse” because her best event is the vault. Aresta’s move on the vault is labeled a yurchenko layout. Basically, she leaps off a springboard, onto the vault and then flips into a layout position.
“She’s the only one that can do the layout off. We didn’t have anyone who could do that last year,” Corsentino said. “She’s kind of average height but she’s just muscle. She’s so strong.”
O’Connell is Old Bridge’s ace on the floor. Scheuerman is Corsentino’s best all-around gymnast.
“Kayla is very clean. That’s where she scores well. She’s very polished on the floor,” Corsentino said. “Amanda is our highest all around scorer. Her highest individual score is 40. Four events, 10 on each. She’s consistently in the 35-36 range.”
Old Bridge’s goal is to qualify for the team state sectional tournament. But either way, these Knights have established a program with visibility and a clear identity. High school gymnastics is the fun complement to club gymnastics.
“Most of these girls go to club gyms, too, and that’s a completely different environment. Practices are harder and longer,” Corsentino said. “This team is a little more relaxed and fun. They are expected to do well and perform well but we can have more fun here, too.”
“Everyone on the team is really friendly. We love each other and the coach is nice,” Scheuerman said. “And the events help with nerves because you prepare for what it’s like at (club) events.”
“It helps with making friends, especially if it’s your freshman year,” Pasram added.
The Knights are good friends at this point, and they are actively trying to recruit more members to their group/team. They will perform some tumbles and jumps at the Old Bridge Fall Festival on Oct. 5.
“It will get our name out there,” Corsentino said.