Howell's Fobes wins SC all-around title
Howell girls are second
The long-awaited showdown between Howell and Red Bank Catholic did not disappoint.

Saturday's Shore Conference Championships at Brick Memorial High School was the first meeting of the year between two of the state's elite teams that had won its respective division titles (A North, Howell and B South, RBC) and had undefeated dual meet campaigns.

The showdown proved to be a split decision as RBC used its depth to beat Howell by the narrow margin of just .025, 108.300-108.275.

Howell, though, had the star of the meet in Austyn Fobes, who captured the all-around title for the second straight year. The Rebel sophomore finished almost a full point ahead of runner-up Danielle D'Elia of Colts Neck. Fobes put up a 38.450 to D'Elia's 37.575.

Fobes' teammate Brianna Ecklof was tied for fourth (36.575) with RBC's Kristin Cahn.

Beween them, Fobes and Ecklof won three of the four individual events. Fobes was first on the uneven bars (9.700) and balance beam (9.625) and Ecklof topped Fobes on the floor exercise, 9.525-9.475.

Fobes was also the runner-up on the vault with a routine that scored 9.650 behind Marissa Goodstein of Toms River North and her 9.675.

Fobes, Eckof and the Rebels will meet RBC again on Saturday at the NJSIAA Central Jersey Championships at Manalapan High School.

One didn't have to look too long to see where the gymnastics power in the Shore resides, the Freehodl Regional District.

Of the six teams that qualified for the team competion four were from the District in Howell, third place Colts Neck (106.950), fourth place Freehold Township (104.275) and fifth place Freehold Borough (102.275).

D'Elia, in addition to being the AA runner up to Fobes, was third on the vault (9.625), bars (9.450) and floor (9.375). She was fifth on the beam (9.125). Nicole Fietas helped the Pats finish fourth with her second place behind Fobes on t he beam (9.425). Marlboro's Nicolette Vignola tied for fourth on the floor (9.325) with TRTN's Goodstein. Howell put the finishing touches on its second straight Shore Conference A North Division title on Oct. 18, when the Rebels beat Marlboro, 109.025-103.875. It was the second highest score of the season for Howell. Earlier the Rebels scored 109.05 in a win over Middletown South.

Fobes and Ecklof combined to finish first in every event. Fobes won the vault (9.55), uneven bars (9.725) and the balance

beam (9.125). Ecklof captured

the floor exercise (9.65).

Overall, Fobes and Ecklof are tied for the highest score in the state on the floor exercise, 9.8. Fobes has the second best tally with her uneven bars routine that earned 9.725.

In Alexa DeCanio, the Rebels have the advantage of a third reliable all arounder who is there if anyone slips up.

Howell finished its regular season with a perfect 10-0 record.

Freehold Township, with exciting freshman Freitas and sophomore Megan Knauf, pulled off a pair of program-making wins this fall. The Pats beat both Marlboro, 104.175-103.125, and Colts Neck, 106.7-106.6, to finish second in A North to Howell. They finished 7-2 and rising.

Marlboro, which has been the area's most consistent program, used the infusion of freshman Vignola with a veteran line-up to remain a highly competitive team. The Mustangs, who just missed making the six-team conference filed have qualified for the state sectionals along with Howell, Colts Neck, Freehold Borough and Freehold Township.