IN SPORTS
By Harry Thomas
Freelance Columnist
Bishop Ahr gymnasts flying high — again
The stretch run begins for New Jersey high school gymnasts the weekend of Nov. 5-6, which means it’s time for the two-time defending state champion Bishop George Ahr High School Trojans, Edison, to take center stage.
The Trojans, ranked No. 1 in the state with a 9-0 dual meet record, will begin their defense of their state title with the Central Jersey, Section 2 meet at Hunterdon Central Regional High School, Raritan Township. There are seven other sectionals around the state. The team will compete for the team state title at Rutgers University Nov. 12.
Bishop Ahr senior Jill Dean, fifth all-around in the state last year with a third in the beam and third in the floor, is leading a team that is competing near its best. The Trojans, who recently won their fourth consecutive Greater Middlesex Conference title, had the highest postseason score so far with a 112.675. They have the top scoring average per meet in the state with a 113.375 and two of their gymnasts lead the list in two events statewide.
Freshman Jahni Stasil has a 9.6 in the vault, while Dean is atop the state list for uneven bars at 9.75.
The Trojans ran away with the county championships recently as Dean won her third all-around title in four years with a 37.575. Stasil and sophomore Nicole Schwartz were the top three all-around scorers. Dean won the uneven bars (9.750) and floor exercise (9.725), Schwartz won the balance beam (9.350) and Stasil won the vault at 9.475.
“What I think is great about this championship was that the girls who started it four years ago and competed all four years were able to win the counties all four years they were together and keep the title,” said head coach Brant Lutska.
“It’s quite an achievement for our four seniors — Jill Dean, Robyn Douglas, Lisa Valera and Carmen Lu,” the coach explained. “Four years ago, when the senior class came in, it was seven girls. This year’s new group is bringing in young, outstanding athletes. It’s kind of unique.”
Now the baton is about to be passed on to a younger group led by junior AshleyAnn Chosney (fifth in all-around), Stasil and Schwartz. Schwartz was home-schooled last year.
“Schwartz is a phenomenal gymast and Stasil is an outstanding freshman,” Lutska said. “This team has a lot of high-level athletes.”
Lutska maintains that there is room for improvement, and hopes the team can eventually get into the 114s.
“I feel very confident about my team, they are very athletic, they have teamwork, they are cooperative and supportive of each other,” the coach said. “They want what’s best for each other and [they are] focused.”
*The attached/referenced article was originally published in The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, and is protected under U.S. and international copyright law