Cherokee Chiefs
Seniors Danielle Smith (pictured), Lauren Armus, Sarah Herman and Breanna Sweely have been with the program since their freshman year and form a solid core for the Chiefs. Smith was named all-South Jersey in beam last year and has qualified for the state championships three years in a row. Sophomore Kennedy Ilagan also competed at states last year and was all-South Jersey in floor. Fellow sophomores Lauren Stevens and Lea Hawthorne also return and coach Brian Moore is expecting several talented freshmen to join the squad, as well.
Cherokee posted an impressive 6-2 record last year—with both losses coming to Lenape, the No. 2 team in the state—and finished third at the sectional championships. The terrific senior class and young athletes like Ilagan should make the Chiefs a very competitive team once again.
Lenape Indians
Senior Marissa Toci is coming off a phenomenal junior season in which she was named South Jersey Gymnast of the Year. She posted three of the top five all-around scores in the state—including the top two—and was named to the all-state first team. She also won the Olympic Conference all-around title for the second straight year, captured the South Jersey sectional title and finished fourth in the state. Senior Heather Puglisi—the co-captain with Toci—junior Melissa Friedhoff and sophomore Caroline Nestor are other key returning gymnasts. Lauren Clemence, Kayah Frable, Lizzy Reid, Brooke Nestor and Aliya Wright are expected to have an impact after moving up from JV, while head coach Scott McManus also has high hopes for incoming freshmen Kayla Dougherty, Corinne Jarvis, Isabella Risica, Julia Gazzara, Haley Stewart and Amber Jones.
The Indians posted one of the best seasons in program history in 2012, as they went 9-0, ended Washington Township’s six-year reign as South Jersey champion and took second in the state. With Toci leading the way, they will again be contenders in the Olympic Conference.
Seneca Golden Eagles
Seniors Jordan Powelson and Jessi Van Horn are the captains and will be counted on as leaders for a young team. Junior Jodi Schauer and sophomore Emily Gardner are also returning gymnasts. Most of the Golden Eagles also compete for Pinelands Gymnastics Academy, and several solid freshman prospects will be joining the team this year.
Seneca believes it has the potential to improve its overall and conference records this season. The Golden Eagles have sent several individual qualifiers to sectionals lately, but it’s been a few years since they qualified as a team, so that is also a goal for 2013.
Shawnee Renegades
Junior Delaney Cahill was the South Jersey and state champion on bars last year and was also all-South Jersey in the all-around and vault. She will be one of the Renegades’ stars again this year, along with Danielle Doolin, who took second in South Jersey in the all-around and was also all-South Jersey in vault, beam and floor. Rachel Balzan and Jordan Ramaglia are the senior captains and team leaders for Shawnee and led an intense offseason training program. Other returning gymnasts are Elena Pomarici, Allie Kirkwood and Chelsea Hill.
Shawnee went 4-4 last season just two years after finishing 0-10. The Renegades placed second at the South Jersey meet and 10th at the state championships, and behind Cahill and Doolin, they will again be one of the top teams in the area.
Washington Township Minutemaids
Senior Victoria Adriano took fifth in the all-around at the Olympic Conference Championships as a junior and will be looking to end her standout career at Washington Township with another solid campaign. Sophomore Abigail Haley is another solid returner to the lineup. Coach Glynn Elmore is also excited about freshmen prospects Casey Hubbard, Kylie Kratchwell and Alex Fulginiti. Other gymnasts who could have an impact are junior Caroline Sandy and sophomore Micaela Colellaro.
After winning six straight sectional championships, the Minutemaids’ run came to an end in 2012 as they finished with a 1-7 record. They will look to bounce back this fall but face tough competition in the Olympic Conference in Lenape, Shawnee and Cherokee.
Girls Gymnastics 2013 Schedules
CHEROKEE CHIEFS
9/11 at Seneca, 5 p.m.
9/19 vs. Washington Township, 5 p.m.
9/24 vs. Shawnee and St. Joseph, 5 p.m.
9/27 vs. Lenape, 5 p.m.
10/8 at Lenape, 5 p.m.
10/11 vs. Seneca, 5 p.m.
10/18 at Washington Township, 5 p.m.
10/24 at Shawnee, 5 p.m.
10/30 at Olympic Conference Championship, 5 p.m.
11/5 at Novice Meet, 5 p.m.
LENAPE INDIANS
9/17 vs. Seneca, 5 p.m.
9/19 at Shawnee, 4 p.m.
9/27 at Cherokee, 5 p.m.
10/1 vs. Washington Township, 5 p.m.
10/4 at Hunterdon Central, 5 p.m.
10/8 vs. Cherokee, 5 p.m.
10/10 at Washington Township, 5 p.m.
10/15 vs. Shawnee, 5 p.m.
10/17 vs. Saint Joseph, 5 p.m.
10/22 at Seneca, 5 p.m.
10/24 vs. Montgomery, 5 p.m.
10/30 at Olympic Conference Meet, 5 p.m.
11/5 at Novice Meet, 5 p.m.
SENECA GOLDEN?EAGLES
9/11 vs. Cherokee, 5 p.m.
9/17 at Lenape, 5 p.m.
9/20 at East Brunswick, 5 p.m.
9/26 vs. Washington Township, 5 p.m.
10/1 vs. Shawnee, 5 p.m.
10/8 at Shawnee, 4 p.m.
10/11 at Cherokee, 5 p.m.
10/16 at Washington Township, 5 p.m.
10/22 vs. Lenape, 5 p.m.
10/30 at Olympic Conference Championship, 5 p.m.
11/5 at Novice Meet, 5 p.m.
SHAWNEE RENEGADES
9/12 at Washington Township, 5 p.m.
9/19 vs. Lenape, 4 p.m.
9/24 at Cherokee, 5 p.m.
10/1 at Seneca, 5 p.m.
10/3 at Lenape and Hunterdon Central, 5 p.m.
10/8 vs. Seneca, 4 p.m.
10/15 at Lenape, 5 p.m.
10/22 vs. Washington Township, 4 p.m.
10/24 vs. Cherokee, 4 p.m.
10/30 at Olympic Conference Championship, 5 p.m.
11/5 at Novice Meet, 5 p.m.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP MINUTEMAIDS
9/12 vs. Shawnee, 5 p.m.
9/19 at Cherokee, 5 p.m.
9/26 at Seneca, 5 p.m.
10/1 at Lenape, 5 p.m.
10/10 vs. Lenape, 5 p.m.
10/16 vs. Seneca, 5 p.m.
10/18 vs. Cherokee, 5 p.m.
10/22 vs. Shawnee, 5 p.m.
10/30 at Olympic Conference Championship, 5 p.m.
11/5 at Novice Meet, 5 p.m.
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Family’s High School Fall Sports Preview, July, 2013.
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