BRICK – While they were a force to be reckoned with in North Jersey throughout the course of the season, as the fifth seed out of eight teams competing, the Mount Olive gymnastics team went into the 2024 NJSIAA State Gymnastics Team Championships as underdogs. However, while they may have been underdogs, the Marauders saved their best for last finishing on top of the podium with a season high score of 110.625 to win their first ever state gymnastics team title.
While Mount Olive may not have put up the biggest scores of the night, they were consistent. The Marauders did not have to take a score lower than an 8.95 and the lowest score that they ended up dropping was an 8.525. Conversely, favorites Marlboro and St. Thomas Aquinas achieved higher scores than Mount Olive but were also forced to count lower scores on occasion.
“Leading up to this we had spoken to the kids about the accomplishments that they made so far, and we just wanted to do the best version of what they could and continue to hit our routines,” said Mount Olive Head Coach Rebecca Neidhardt, later adding, “We just had fun. They were high school kids doing their thing and showing off a little bit with what they’re capable of doing. And I’m so proud of them.”
The Marauders were led by Amy Rubinstein. Rubinstein did not record a score below 9.0 and finished with a 9.35 on vault, 9.4 on uneven bars, 9.425 on balance beam, and 9.075 on floor exercise. With the exceptional night that she had, the highlight came on bars where Rubinstein held a handstand for an extended period of time, wowing those in attendance.
Also competing for Mount Olive, Meghan Rodas and Charlotte Lehner competed as all-arounders while Avery Schroeder competed on the vault and beam and Natalie Watson competed on the bars and floor. Schroeder recorded the highest score of the night for the Marauders with a 9.475 on the beam.
Marlboro finished in second with a score of 109.925. The Mustangs were led by Dana Imperial who competed in the all-around and finished her night with scores of 9.2 on the vault, 9.7 on the bars, 9.675 on the beam, and 9.25 on the floor.
Completing the top three, Middletown South finished with a 109.775 to secure the third spot. The Eagles were led by Ava Trezza. Trezza competed on all four events for Middletown South scoring a 9.775 on vault, an 8.875 on bars, a 9.6 on beam, and a 9.65 on floor. Trezza’s vault score was the highest score on any event for the meet.
Rounding off the team standings, St. Thomas Aquinas finished in fourth with a 109.675, Cherokee finished in fifth with a 109.275, Hillsborough finished in sixth with a 107.475, St. John Vianney finished in seventh with a 107.275, and Bridgewater-Raritan finished in eighth with a 107.025.
The New Jersey high school gymnastics season will conclude on Saturday with the individual state championships in Brick.
