Individual, team talent at a premium in District CN's Diamond, Marlboro's Jack among state's best BY TIM MORRIS Staff Writer The 2006 scholastic gymnastics season holds a lot of promise for the Freehold Regional District schools. Colts Neck and Marlboro, which finished second and sixth respectively at last year's state championships, should again contend at the state level. Manalapan has been a perennial Shore Conference and Central Jersey qualifier, and will again be in the chase for the postseason. Freehold Borough showed signs of resurgence last fall and that should carry over to 2006. The big news could be the re-emergence of Howell High School as a power. To go along with these talented teams, the District has two of the best gymnasts in the state in Colts Neck's Lindsay Diamond and Marlboro's Lauren Jack. Diamond finished second in the all-around (AA) at the NJSIAA championships, scoring 37.075. She medaled individually in all four AA events. The senior captured her third straight Central Jersey Section I all-around crown and won the uneven bars and vault titles there. At the Shore Conference, the Cougar won the vault and floor exercise championships. With this her final time around, Diamond will be looking to nail down that elusive state title. She was 10th as a freshman, fourth as a sophomore and second last year. Jack, also a senior, enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2006. Always a great team performer, she found her stride as an all-arounder, and finished second in the conference, third in Central Jersey and 11th at the state championships. She won medals on the vault and floor at the state finals, and won the SC title on the uneven bars. Marlboro, Colts Neck, Howell to vie for A North Cathy Pierson's Mustangs have been the District's standardbearers and the 2006 season should see Marlboro again among the state's elite. Optimism stems from having Jack as the leader, and a very strong supporting cast that has had experience in state championship competition. "She's more confident," Pierson said of Jack. "She has difficult routines and has beautiful execution." Diana Hartman, senior co-captain with Hartman, is the team's other solid all-arounder. "She's worked hard on her routines," said Pierson. "She's added difficult moves to her routines." Jack and Hartman will receive plenty of help this year. The Mustangs are loaded behind them. Dana Fitzpatrick (co-captain, vault, bars and beam) and Kellie Casamassina (vault, floor) are experienced seniors. Juniors Kara Mondry (AA), Jen D'Auria (AA), Marisa Glassman (vault, beam, floor) and Lauren Zwang all have experience and can be the third, fourth and fifth scorers for the Mustangs. D.J. Slugh, a sophomore, will help out on the floor and vault. Freshmen Isabelle Mecker (beam and floor) and Nicole Maistrow (beam and floor) are expected to help this year, while Carly Bzura (beam and floor) is another frosh who will see action. Freshman Jessica Lowy will add another AA performer to the lineup when she joins the team next month. She is nursing a sprained ankle. Marlboro will be tested out of the gate as the Mustangs open their dual-meet season against Colts Neck on the road. Marlboro goes up against Manalapan on the road on Tuesday and meets Howell in Marlboro on Oct. 17. All meets start at 4:30 p.m. Colts Neck becomes an instant contender in A North with Diamond returning along with junior Danielle D'Elia. "It's a new experience [A North] for the girls," said Michelle Silverstone, Colts Neck's head coach. "The girls are all revved up." Especially Diamond, who could become only the second Freehold District gymnast to win a state AA title, joining Howell's Dawn Campbell. "She's gearing up for a great season," said Silverstone. "Lindsay has been so good, so consistent over the years. She's looking to maintain what's she's done." In D'Elea, the Cougars have another state championship medal winner. She was eighth on the beam at the states after a third place in the state sectional. She was sixth in the all-around competition at the conference meet. Silverstone said that D'Elea has improved her routines from a year ago. Erin Payne, who is outstanding on the bars, is the team's third strong all-arounder. A pair of freshmen, Kelly Hoffbauer and Allie Burne, are the team's fourth and fifth scorers. The Cougars have depth behind their top five. "We're looking forward to a good season," said Silverstone. Jennifer Conway-Hartman expects Howell to join the division contenders this fall. Once the division's top team, the Rebels are undergoing a renaissance with the addition this year of three talented newcomers. Sophomore Austin Fobes, a national elite gymnast, and freshmen Alexa DeCano and Brianna Ecklof have taken the team to a new level. All are all-around performers. Along with the newcomers, the Rebels have a lot of experience to give the team depth and flexibility. Juniors Alexandra Barone (AA), Nina Bisozio (beam, vault and floor), Megan Hatch (vault) and Kristen Connolly (vault and floor) are all three-year members of the team. Sophomores Molly MacNamara (AA), Lindsay Rehberger (AA) and Alison Fernandes (AA) were competitors last year. Kellie Bresz and Megan Grothues, both all-arounders, are freshmen who are expected to contribute this year as well. One loss for the Rebels is senior and four-year starter Kaylin Gosak, an all-arounder who is out due to a knee injury. The Rebels have both the high-skill level and depth to make a serious run at the division's best teams. They delivered a clear message to the rest of the division and the Shore when they scored 105.727 points in their first meet of the year, a win over Brick Memorial. Tomorrow, the Rebels will host Colts Neck in what will be one of the division's most important dual meets. At Manalapan, coach Dorine Shapiro has a very deep squad herself. She has nine to 10 gymnasts who can compete in every event, which should help the Braves if they have to overcome injuries. Seniors Arielle Phillips and Julie Ermoloff, junior Lacey Salberg and freshman Brittany Barry are the team's best all-around gymnasts. Phillips is one of the best in the Shore Conference, Ermoloff is the most improved member of the team having upgraded her skills from a year ago, and Salberg was last year's Most Valuable Player. Barry is expected to step right in and have an impact. Amanda DePasquale (beam), Jackie Martin (AA), Toni Razzagone (AA), Heather Kravitz (AA) and Nicole LaSpina (AA) are returners with Michelle Bambara (AA) and Lindsey Everk (vault and bars), the other key incoming freshmen. With Marlboro, Colts Neck, Howell and Manalapan all in A North, this division is a showcase of not only the best talent in the conference, but the state as well. It would be tough to come up with a more competitive division anywhere in the state. Their dual meets will be like watching a state tournament. Megan Doherty, Samantha Aiello, Carli Rosa, Jade Williams and Alexa Joyce are the veterans that Freehold Township coach Jim St. Angelo will be counting on this fall. The Pats do have some impact freshmen, led by Lindsay Gordon. At Freehold Borough, the Colonials will look to continue the momentum they gained last year, led by Nicole Panzarino, who had such an outstanding freshman season. Michelle Leitner, Michelle Ruggiero, Laura Gallo and Daniella Briandi were all freshmen last year and are now varsity veterans. Freehold Borough won its first meet of the season, getting by crosstown rival Freehold Township, 99.875-98.375.