Little does Saint John Vianney students know that the athletic department has added a new sports team, gymnastics. The team consists of five talented gymnasts, Kristen Politz, senior captain who has been committed to Penn State since the summer of 2013, juniors Marina Pietri and Jen LaPoss, and freshmen, Ari Agrapedes and Alex Panetta. Traci Vad and Diane Farrell, the coaches of the new team, have had an abundance of experience in the gymnastics world. Vad was a high school gymnast and a high school gymnastics judge, while Farrell has coached gymnastics for approximately thirty years.

The gymnastics team was started because “many local high schools had one and gymnasts who competed outside of SJV wanted to compete in a high school sport” Politz stated. The gymnastic meets consist of four events: bar, beam, vault, and floor. Practice is held twice a week at Rebound Gymnastics in Marlboro, than the gymnasts practice individually for the rest of the week at their own gyms.

“The girls and I are most excited for our sectional, states, and shore conference meets.” The gymnastics team just competed against RBC for their first dual meet on October 5^th. The Lancers were defeated by the Casey’s in a nail biting match up, 111.3 to 112.55. Politz’s biggest fear entering this meet was “disappointing the team,” but she accomplished the opposite. Politz had the highest individual score with a 38.425, and her highest scored event was the vault with a 9.775.

Even though Politz is soon to be a Division I athlete, she still believes she has an improvement to make, “being able have to confidence throughout each meet and having consistent routines.”

SJV students, come out and support our new gymnastics team throughout their season. Go Lancers!