Cherokee
Chiefs
Gymnasts to watch: Addison Wright has been one of the premier gymnasts in the area throughout her career and is poised to go out on a high note in her senior season. She won the all-around at the Olympic Conference Championships last year, placing first in the bars and the floor exercise while taking second in the vault and the beam. She added third-place finishes in the vault and the floor to go with a fifth in the bars at sectionals and went on to compete at states. Wright also starred in dual meets, winning the all-around on six different occasions. Sophomore Sophia Illigasch is another top returner who made an immediate impact as a rookie. She placed first in the all-around during a regular-season victory and took third in the vault at the conference meet. Senior Katie Armellino and junior Danika Pringle are other key veterans who both medaled at the conference novice meet. Seniors Aubree Ellis, Keira Fronczak and Kara Mulholland and juniors Maggie O’Brien and Isabel Szombathy also hope to contribute.
Outlook: The Chiefs completed their second straight 8-0 season and also repeated as team champions at the conference meet before taking fourth at sectionals during a memorable 2023 campaign. Wright should be in the mix for individual titles and more team success can be expected this fall too.
Lenape
Indians
Gymnasts to watch: Lenape brings back a talented core from a team that made great strides last season. That includes sophomore Brianna Lauer, who placed fourth in the all-around, second in the bars and third in the floor exercise at the Olympic Conference Championships and took seventh in the bars at sectionals. She was also a difference-maker during dual meets, winning the all-around three times to go with nine first-place finishes in individual events. Junior Kaydence Cann shined during duals as well, particularly in the vault, and has the potential to contend at the major meets. Joining Lauer in the talented sophomore class are Devan DiSanto, who won two individual events during duals, and Caroline Saggiomo, who added one. Kaylee Corr and Madelyn List are senior leaders who made significant contributions to several of Lenape’s regular-season wins.
Outlook: The Indians posted a 5-2 record in 2023, a three-win improvement over the year before, and their only two losses were close calls against undefeated Cherokee. They also placed second in the team standings at the conference meet, and with so many key gymnasts returning this fall, they aim to stay in contention.
Seneca
Golden Eagles
Gymnasts to watch: Senior Serena Coppola is looking forward to a successful final season after putting together a string of impressive performances in dual meets last year. She was especially productive in the vault, bars and beam and has a chance to make some noise at the Olympic Conference and sectional meets this fall as well. Senior Maya Warner continues to show improvement, posting great scores in several events, including the floor. Seneca is also looking forward to some impressive newcomers joining the team this fall.
Outlook: The Golden Eagles have several experienced gymnasts back on the roster and they hope to show improvement throughout the year while staying competitive against a challenging schedule.
Shawnee
Renegades
Gymnasts to watch: Junior Mya Groves was once again a force during dual meets last year, taking first in individual events 13 times throughout the season. She went on to leave her mark at the Olympic Conference Championships too, placing third in the all-around, second in the floor exercise, third in the bars and third in the beam. It will be exciting to see what she can accomplish as an upperclassman. Senior Ellie Majewski placed first in the vault in five different duals and senior Alayna Cottone stands out in the event as well. The roster also includes several talented veterans who medaled at the conference novice meet: senior Kayleigh Neubauer, who took first in both the all-around and the floor; senior Caitlin Baublitz, who placed fourth in the all-around; senior Morgan Herber, who finished first in the vault and second in the beam; and junior Erin Newstat, who claimed third in the beam. Seniors Sophia Juliano and Graceanna Rogers round out the strong crop of returners.
Outlook: The Renegades are coming off a solid 4-4 season in which they placed third at the conference meet. With Groves and a deep senior class leading the way, this year has the potential to be even better.
Washington Township
Minutemaids
Gymnasts to watch: Senior Mackenzie Gramble leads a strong returning nucleus for Washington Township and has high hopes for her final season. She won the all-around in three different dual meets as a junior and added first-place showings in three individual events while finishing in the top three in a slew of others. Sophomore Victoria Garcia is another top returner who had four firsts and won the all-around in a victory over Seneca. Sophomore Olivia Pentz displayed promise as a rookie, taking second in the all-around, the bars and the floor at the conference novice meet. Seniors Hannah Grace Lindstedt and Ava Ritz, junior Gabby Chelnik and sophomore Rori Collins also hope to make their presence felt during duals.
Outlook: The Minutemaids were competitive in most of their meets and finished 2-5 with a young lineup in 2023. A year of varsity experience should pay off this fall.
SCHEDULE
All schedules subject to change; please check with schools before attending.
Cherokee Chiefs
9/5 at Shawnee, 4 p.m.
9/11 vs. Seneca, 4 p.m.
9/19 vs. Washington Township, 5 p.m.
9/24 at Lenape, 4 p.m.
9/30 vs. Shawnee, 4 p.m.
10/8 vs. Seneca, 4 p.m.
10/15 at Washington Township, 5 p.m.
10/22 vs. Lenape, 4 p.m.
10/28 Olympic Conference Championships at Cherokee, 4 p.m.
10/30 Olympic Conference Novice Meet at Shawnee, 4 p.m.
11/2 Sectionals at Manalapan, 9 a.m.
Lenape Indians
9/5 vs. Seneca at Shawnee, 4 p.m.
9/10 at Washington Township, 5 p.m.
9/17 at Shawnee, 4 p.m.
9/24 vs. Cherokee at Shawnee, 4 p.m.
9/30 vs. Seneca at Cherokee, 4 p.m.
10/7 at Shawnee, 4 p.m.
10/17 at Shawnee, 5 p.m.
10/22 at Cherokee, 4 p.m.
10/28 Olympic Conference Championships at Cherokee, 4 p.m.
10/30 Olympic Conference Novice Meet at Shawnee, 4 p.m.
11/2 Sectionals at Manalapan, 9 a.m.
Seneca Golden Eagles
9/5 vs. Lenape at Shawnee, 4 p.m.
9/11 at Cherokee, 4 p.m.
9/19 vs. Washington Township at Cherokee, 5 p.m.
9/24 vs. Lenape at Cherokee, 4 p.m.
10/8 at Cherokee, 4 p.m.
10/15 at Washington Township, 5 p.m.
10/22 vs. Shawnee at Cherokee, 4 p.m.
10/28 Olympic Conference Championships at Cherokee, 4 p.m.
10/30 Olympic Conference Novice Meet at Shawnee, 4 p.m.
11/2 Sectionals at Manalapan, 9 a.m.
Shawnee Renegades
9/5 vs. Cherokee, 4 p.m.
9/10 at Washington Township, 5 p.m.
9/17 vs. Lenape, 4 p.m.
9/24 vs. Seneca, 4 p.m.
9/30 at Cherokee, 4 p.m.
10/7 vs. Lenape, 4 p.m.
10/17 vs. Washington Township, 5 p.m.
10/22 vs. Seneca at Cherokee, 4 p.m.
10/28 Olympic Conference Championships at Cherokee, 4 p.m.
10/30 Olympic Conference Novice Meet at Shawnee, 4 p.m.
11/2 Sectionals at Manalapan, 9 a.m.
Washington Township Minutemaids
9/10 vs. Lenape and Shawnee, 5 p.m.
9/19 at Cherokee, 5 p.m.
9/26 vs. Hightstown, 5 p.m.
10/8 at Southern, 5 p.m.
10/15 vs. Cherokee and Seneca, 5 p.m.
10/17 at Shawnee, 5 p.m.
10/28 Olympic Conference Championships at Cherokee, 4 p.m.
10/30 Olympic Conference Novice Meet at Shawnee, 4 p.m.
11/2 Sectionals at Manalapan, 9 a.m.
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Family Magazine, Volume 15, Issue 1.
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