Bridgewater-Raritan repeats as Somerset County champion
Bridgewater-Raritan is a strong program in New Jersey and is dominating Somerset County over the last two years.
The Panthers recently won back-to-back county titles and had to work to get it done.
“Our first event was beam, which can be a tough event to start on,” Bridgewater-Raritan head coach Julie Zaneto said. “It’s not easy to control your nerves on a 4″ surface, so it was a bit of a shaky start to the meet, however, the team kept their composure, maintained their focus & stayed positive, which resulted in a very successful meet. We made some upgrades for this meet; adding more difficult skills to their routine, which definitely made an impact.”
Junior Elle Kim was victorious at this meet with an all-around score of 35.95. She added victories on bars (9.2) and floor (9.25).
“Elle Kim is a beautiful gymnasts to watch,” Zaneto said. “Her lines are stunning. She is a leader by example. Super focused & always working hard. She encourages her teammates to be the best they can be.”
The Panthers have put together success in recent years. For a program to have this continuity, it has to have newcomers making an impact consistently. That is the dynamic once again for Bridgewater-Raritan.
“The newcomers to our team have meshed really well with their veteran teammates,” Zaneto said. “They bring new energy & skill to the team. This team has great chemistry & are very supportive of one another.”
Nina Sangiuliano leading St. Thomas Aquinas
St. Thomas Aquinas is a high-scoring team this season during its 5-0 start.
The Trojans have logged a score of 111.175 on two separate occasions this season. The team is extremely well-rounded but junior Nina Sangiuliano has led the charge.
Sangiuliano has two all-around victories, including a score of 37.625. This is one of the highest in the state to this point. She has not logged below a nine on vault or bars.
Sangiuliano thrives on bars and performs well when the lights are brightest. Against East Brunswick, she won gold with a score of 9.625.
St. Thomas Aquinas is already near the top of the rankings and that will continue if Sangiuliano continues to perform like this.
Cranford continues to impress
Cranford came into the season as one of the teams to keep an eye an around New Jersey and is showing why.
The Cougars did not shy away from strong competition early on. They scheduled meets against two of the top teams in the state to begin -- Westfield and Scotch Plains-Fanwood. After dropping two in a row, Cranford is now 4-2 and continues to improve.
Cranford has scored at least 103 points as a team in all six meets this season. This includes a season-high of 106.375 in a win over Summit.
Sophomore Claire Werner and freshman Mia Altobelli have stepped up and have the Cougars in a good position, not only this season, but for years to come. Senior Samantha Levenstein has also taken on a leadership role.
The Cougars are heating up over the last few weeks and it is coming at a good time.
Nayah Hahn making an impact as a freshman
Seneca is off to a slow start to the season but the future is bright with Nayah Hahn leading the way.
In her first season, Hahn has established herself as an elite all-around competitor. She has totaled three all-around victories and has been at the top of many events to this point of the season.
On Tuesday against Shawnee, Hahn totaled 36.45 points, which is her highest total of the season. Hahn is strong all-around but thrives on floor. She has scores of 9.4 and 9.5 under her belt.
There are many first-year gymnasts that are making early impacts and Hahn has to be mentioned when discussing some of the best.
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