CHEROKEE
CHIEFS
GYMNASTS TO WATCH: Cherokee brings back a dynamic duo in junior Addison Wright and senior Kaitlyn Cosper, who both shined during the regular season and at the major meets in 2022. Wright took second in the all-around and first on the bars at the Olympic Conference Championships, then placed second in the all-around at sectionals. She also won the all-around twice during dual meets. Cosper was the conference champion in the vault on her way to fourth in the all-around, and she also placed fourth in the all-around at sectionals. She won the all-around three times during dual meets. Both competed at states as well and are looking forward to huge seasons this fall. Senior Lindsey Bonkowski and junior Katie Armellino are other key returners who contributed to the Chiefs’ undefeated record. Ava Dormer and Pumla Masamvu are senior leaders, and gymnasts hoping to assume bigger roles are juniors Aubree Ellis, Kara Mulholland and Keira Fronczak and sophomores Maggie O’Brien, Danika Pringle and Isabel Szombathy.
OUTLOOK: Cherokee is coming off a magical season in which it went 8-0 and captured conference and sectional titles. The Chiefs should once again be a force with Wright and Cosper leading the way and contending for individual crowns of their own.
LENAPE
INDIANS
GYMNASTS TO WATCH: Lenape might not have the numbers of other programs in the area, but the Indians are happy to welcome back three talented gymnasts who all had an impact last year. Sophomore Kaydence Cann was the most consistent of the bunch during her promising rookie season, as she took second in the all-around at two dual meets to go with three third-place finishes. Senior Tula Pappas was dominant in a victory over Seneca, winning the all-around and three individual events, and was a contributor in dual meets throughout the year. Junior Kaylee Corr is the third member of the group; she took third in the all-around in a loss to Shawnee and also had a strong showing in a loss to Washington Township.
OUTLOOK: The Indians were competitive in most of their dual meets last fall, winning two, and expect to keep making strides as a program in 2023.
SENECA
GOLDEN EAGLES
GYMNASTS TO WATCH: Nayah Hahn had quite a rookie season last year, as she not only established herself as a difference-maker in dual meets, but also had standout performances at the Olympic Conference, sectional and state championships. She placed in the top five in three events at the conference meet on her way to third in the all-around, and enters her sophomore season with lofty goals. Senior Morgan White and junior Serena Coppola are other talented veterans who consistently put up strong scores during dual meets. Junior Maya Warner and newcomers Maggie Carlin and Lola Fonti also hope to contribute.
OUTLOOK: Seneca continues to grow with a strong returning core, and things are looking up for the Golden Eagles following a rebuilding season in 2022.
SHAWNEE
RENEGADES
GYMNASTS TO WATCH: Mya Groves burst onto the scene as a freshman and immediately made an impact for Shawnee. She won six individual events during dual meets, placed in the top three on 16 different occasions and took third in the all-around in a win over Washington Township. The next step for her as a sophomore is contending at the Olympic Conference and sectional championships. Other top returners are juniors Ellie Majewski and Alayna Cottone, who were major contributors during dual meets and especially thrived in the vault. Junior Morgan Harber took first in the floor exercise in a win over Seneca and sophomore Erin Newstat had a pair of second-place finishes on the balance beam in wins over Lenape and Seneca. Other experienced gymnasts include seniors Kylee Dwornik and Cecilia Sherman and juniors Caitlin Baublitz, Kayleigh Neubauer and Graceanna Rogers.
OUTLOOK: Coming off a strong 6-3 season—with two of the losses coming to undefeated Cherokee—the Renegades are in position for another successful year and will give every opponent on the schedule a battle.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
MINUTEMAIDS
GYMNASTS TO WATCH: Washington Township said goodbye to a special senior class that included Olympic Conference all-around champion Isabella Nelli, but is happy to welcome back junior Mackenzie Gramble, who flashed a ton of potential as a sophomore. She was productive during dual meets and finished second in the all-around in a win over Lenape and third in the all-around in a victory over Seneca. Gramble will look to reach another level as an upperclassman. Hannah Grace Lindstedt is another junior who could emerge as a leader. Other returners expected to make an impact are juniors Allison Hargrave, Ava Ritz and Morgan Valentine and sophomore Gabby Chelnik.
OUTLOOK: The Minutemaids, who went 5-3 last fall, always find a way to stay competitive and hope the trend continues with some new faces in the lineup.
SCHEDULE
All schedules subject to change; please check with schools before attending.
Cherokee Chiefs
9/7 vs. Shawnee, 4 p.m.
9/12 vs. Seneca, 4 p.m.
9/21 at Washington Township, 5 p.m.
9/26 vs. Lenape, 4 p.m.
9/28 at Shawnee, 4 p.m.
10/9 at Seneca, 4 p.m.
10/12 at Lenape, 4 p.m.
10/18 vs. Washington Township, 4 p.m.
10/24 Olympic Conference Championships at Cherokee, 4 p.m.
11/4 Sectionals at Southern Regional, TBA
Lenape Indians
9/19 vs. Shawnee, 4 p.m.
9/26 at Cherokee, 4 p.m.
9/28 vs. Washington Township, 5 p.m.
10/10 at Shawnee, 4 p.m.
10/12 vs. Cherokee, 4 p.m.
10/20 at Washington Township, 5 p.m.
10/24 Olympic Conference Championships at Cherokee, 4 p.m.
11/4 Sectionals at Southern Regional, TBA
Seneca Golden Eagles
9/12 at Cherokee, 4 p.m.
9/18 vs. Washington Township, 5 p.m.
9/21 vs. Shawnee, 4 p.m.
10/9 vs. Cherokee, 4 p.m.
10/12 at Washington Township, 5 p.m.
10/17 at Shawnee, 4 p.m.
10/24 Olympic Conference Championships at Cherokee, 4 p.m.
11/4 Sectionals at Southern Regional, TBA
Shawnee Renegades
9/7 at Cherokee, 4 p.m.
9/12 vs. Washington Township, 5 p.m.
9/19 at Lenape, 4 p.m.
9/21 at Seneca, 4 p.m.
9/28 vs. Cherokee, 4 p.m.
10/3 at Washington Township, 5 p.m.
10/10 vs. Lenape, 4 p.m.
10/17 vs. Seneca, 4 p.m.
10/24 Olympic Conference Championships at Cherokee, 4 p.m.
11/4 Sectionals at Southern Regional, TBA
Washington Township Minutemaids
9/12 at Shawnee, 5 p.m.
9/18 at Seneca, 5 p.m.
9/21 vs. Cherokee, 5 p.m.
9/28 at Lenape, 5 p.m.
10/3 vs. Shawnee, 5 p.m.
10/12 vs. Seneca, 5 p.m.
10/18 at Cherokee, 4 p.m.
10/20 vs. Lenape, 5 p.m.
10/24 Olympic Conference Championships at Cherokee, 4 p.m.
11/4 Sectionals at Southern Regional, TBA
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Family Magazine, Volume 14, Issue 2.
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