Cherokee Chiefs
Players to watch: Paige Rhoads had a dazzling debut season for Cherokee (pictured) last year and it will be exciting to see how she follows it up as a sophomore. She claimed the all-around title at the South Jersey Championships with 37.425 points, as her performance included first-place finishes on vault, beam and floor. Rhoads also became the first gymnast in school history to win the all-around at the Olympic Conference Championships and competed at states. Senior Kennedy Ilagan gave the Chiefs a 1-2 finish in the conference, as she was right behind Rhoads in the all-around and captured first on bars. Ilagan also took fifth in South Jersey on beam. Senior Alexis Fearon and junior Samantha Moreno were also major contributors last year, and other returners include seniors Lea Hawthorne and Lauren Stevens and sophomore Maddie Fearon.
OUTLOOK: The Chiefs’ outstanding 2014 campaign featured a 7-1 record and second-place finish at sectionals. With the entire team back this fall, they’ll aim for the South Jersey title.
Lenape Indians
Players to watch: Senior Caroline Nestor highlights a solid group of returners for Lenape after placing fifth in the all-around at the Olympic Conference Championships. Nestor was fourth on bars in the conference for the second year in a row and also took fifth on vault. Junior Kayla Dougherty made great strides as a sophomore and is another key returner, and senior Brooke Nestor, Caroline’s twin sister, is a valuable gymnast as well. Other returners looking to make an impact are senior Ashley Terry and sophomores Julie Bang, Ashley Irwin and Alley Koerner. There are also three incoming freshmen who could contribute right away.
OUTLOOK: The Indians went 3-6 in 2014 and handed Cherokee its only loss of the season. Although they’re not sure if they’ll have any home meets this year due to their gym floor being replaced, they should contend for a winning record behind the talented duo of Nestor and Dougherty.
Seneca Golden Eagles
Players to watch: Junior
Brittney Raffo, who placed fourth in the all-around at the Olympic Conference Championships in 2014, will not return for Seneca due to her commitment to her private gym. While that is a big loss, the good news is that senior Emily Gardner is back after taking fourth on both vault and floor at the conference meet. Her sister, junior Jaylyn Gardner, is another returning contributor, and they will be aided by senior Gabriella Magasic and junior Audrey Cannon.
OUTLOOK: Seneca has made impressive progress as a program in the last several years and posted a 5-5 record in 2014. The Golden Eagles will look to keep the momentum going this fall under a new head coach, as Dusty Carroll has stepped down from the position.
Shawnee Renegades
Players to watch: Senior captain Emily Miller is the lone upperclassman returning for Shawnee and her leadership will be crucial for a young team. Sophomore returners Amanda Michaels and
Fabiana Ferraiolo will also play important roles this fall. Several incoming freshmen are expected to fill out the lineup.
OUTLOOK: The Renegades are entering a rebuilding year with an inexperienced squad, but hope to set themselves up for success down the line.
Washington Township Minutemaids
Players to watch: Washington Township brings back several of its leading gymnasts from its bounce-back season in 2014. Among that group is junior Casey Hubbard, whose breakout sophomore campaign featured a third-place finish in the all-around at the Olympic Conference Championships. She was second in the conference on vault, third on floor and fourth on beam and will look for continued success this fall. Abby Haley is poised for a big senior season after placing fourth in South Jersey on beam and competing at states, where she was 12th. She also took third on beam and fifth on floor in the conference. Senior Micaela Coltellaro is another strong competitor who took sixth in the all-around at the conference meet. Junior Abigail Deal shines on bars and is another key returner. Other returners who will look to contribute include seniors Hannah Colbert, Taylor
Corson, Kelsey Mountford and Gabrielle Nestore; and sophomores Kelly Clee, Madison Harris and Ariel Thompson.
OUTLOOK: The Minutemaids stormed back from consecutive 1-7 seasons to finish 6-2 last year and take fourth at sectionals. They are in line for another successful season.
Gymnastics Team Schedules
Cherokee Chiefs
9/10 vs. Seneca, 5 p.m.
9/17 at Washington Township, 5 p.m.
9/24 at Lenape, 5 p.m.
10/1 vs. Shawnee, 5 p.m.
10/6 vs. Lenape, 5 p.m.
10/8 at Seneca, 5 p.m.
10/15 vs. Washington Township, 5 p.m.
10/20 vs. Brick, 5 p.m.
10/22 at Shawnee, 4 p.m.
10/28 Olympic Conference Championships at Cherokee, 5 p.m.
11/3 Novice Meet at Seneca, 5 p.m.
11/7 Sectional Meet at Seneca, 11 a.m.
Lenape Indians
9/15 vs. Seneca, 5 p.m.
9/17 at Shawnee, 4 p.m.
9/24 vs. Cherokee, 5 p.m.
9/29 vs. Washington Township, 5 p.m.
10/6 at Cherokee, 5 p.m.
10/9 at Washington Township, 5 p.m.
10/13 vs. Shawnee, 5 p.m.
10/20 at Seneca, 5 p.m.
10/28 Olympic Conference Championships at Cherokee, 5 p.m.
11/3 Novice Meet at Seneca, 5 p.m.
11/7 Sectional Meet at Seneca, 11 a.m.
Seneca Golden Eagles
9/10 at Cherokee, 5 p.m.
9/15 at Lenape, 5 p.m.
9/24 vs. Washington Township, 5 p.m.
9/29 at Shawnee, 4 p.m.
10/6 vs. Shawnee, 5 p.m.
10/8 vs. Cherokee, 5 p.m.
10/13 at Washington Township, 5 p.m.
10/20 vs. Lenape, 5 p.m.
10/28 Olympic Conference Championships at Cherokee, 5 p.m.
11/3 Novice Meet at Seneca, 5 p.m.
11/7 Sectional Meet at Seneca, 11 a.m
Shawnee Renegades
9/10 vs. Washington Township, 5 p.m.
9/17 vs. Lenape, 4 p.m.
9/29 vs. Seneca, 4 p.m.
10/1 at Cherokee, 5 p.m.
10/6 at Seneca, 5 p.m.
10/13 at Lenape, 5 p.m.
10/20 at Washington Township, 5 p.m.
10/22 vs. Cherokee, 4 p.m.
10/28 Olympic Conference Championships at Cherokee, 5 p.m.
11/3 Novice Meet at Seneca, 5 p.m.
11/7 Sectional Meet at Seneca, 11 a.m.
Washington Township Minutemaids
9/10 at Shawnee, 5 p.m.
9/17 vs. Cherokee, 5 p.m.
9/24 at Seneca, 5 p.m.
9/29 at Lenape, 5 p.m.
10/9 vs. Lenape, 5 p.m.
10/13 vs. Seneca, 5 p.m.
10/15 at Cherokee, 5 p.m.
10/20 vs. Shawnee, 5 p.m.
10/28 Olympic Conference Championships at Cherokee, 5 p.m.
11/3 Novice Meet at Seneca, 5 p.m.
11/7 Sectional Meet at Seneca, 11 a.m.
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Family’s High School Fall Sports Preview, July, 2015.
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