Well, technically, I am live, here at Hunterdon Central for the individual state championships, that should start in about 10 minutes, but I have more to say about Pascack being the first Bergen County team in 30 years to win a team state title last night.
Thursday night I was on the phone with Pascack coach Chari Hunter and after a little while, I asked her point blank "Are you gonna win?" And she said, maybe top 3. I told her (and she will vouch for me, I think) you are going to win.
But what they had to do, was they really had to win emphatically, leave no doubt, judging in the state of New Jersey is so funky. And there were scores in the South that were just ridiculous...I mean, just unbelieavbly high. But its so hard to tell whether the scores are inflated, or the teams are really that good, teams from the north and south rarely compete against one another (read: never). And at sectionals, the judges always seem to boost everyone up a half point or so to make sure their girls get in.
Anyway, I got here last night and sought our Chari right away, she said she felt friendless! Because it was just a team competition, there was no one else from North Jersey around. She didnt know any of the other teams and coaches. We chatted for a minute, talked about how it was good that they were seeded 2nd and in the same pairing with Bishop Ahr, it was almost like a head to head competition.
And that was the way I treated it, I basically ignored the other teams and followed Pascack and Ahr. I watched the kids from Bishop Ahr show up (students) and they had signs...and a guy in the Trojan costume, which is funny, because I swear at the state swimming team championships a rep from the NJSIAA took away a bunch of signs from IHA folks...but I digress. And Ahr got off to a good start, scoring a 28.1 on vault and Pascack followed with a 28.025.
After a brief delay, we went to bars and Pascack started first and Tara Rosenberg hit a 9.6...and to me, it was kinda like, the big message was sent. Bishop Ahr had good routines, but no one could come close to that, Meagan Phelan frowned after her routine (she was state champ on bars 2 years ago) but still put up a 9.3. Then it was Ahr's turn...and their routines were good, and clean, but you could just tell they werent as complicated, so they were scored lower. After 2 rotations, I went up to Chari and said, 'you're winning" It was 56.4 to 56.275.
Chari said to me, "we still havent been on beam yet." And she is right, more titles have been won and lost on the beam than anywhere else. Ahr started first on the beam, and it was the same kinda deal, they were clean, barely a bobble, but still, there stuff wasnt as difficult and was scored in the low 9s, and then, one after the other, the Pascack girls were good, I mean, very good. Lindsay Bloom started with a simple routine, but it was a 9, Natali Ruzich hit, Tara Rosenberg barely bobbled and Meagan Phelan hit a great tumbling set. It was all over, Pascack had a 84.45, and Bishop Ahr had fallen back to 83.8, now Hillsborough was in 2nd.
So all Pascack had to do was just not screw up...and they were better than that. Lindsay Bloom's floor routine was good, kinda bland (strictly my opinion) but it was clean and Natali followed with a good one, Tara (who really had a strong night) did too. Meagan was the last Pascack girl and she danced to music at first from Superman, which I thought was cool. Their scores were all mid-9s, and I knew that Ahe would need 9.7s or better just to make it close. And they just didnt.
So, I know its gymnastics, and it doesnt get the publicity other sports....but it has been 30 years since Bergen County produced a state team champion. 30 years! I mean, Bosco wins football state titles every year (even though they are technically 'sectional' titles, which is a huge crock, but whatever). This was a special night and a special group of girls. The program is in its 4th year, a co-op of girls from Pascack Valley and Pascack Hills, even though, all the girls are really from Valley. The co-op is breaking up next year, which means "Pascack Valley Regional" won the state title, next year, it will probably just be Pascack Valley (no one graduates). I'm sure Hunter will be the coach...Hills will field its own team, maybe co-oping with someone else (they should look to merge with Northern Highlands).
Well, the introductions are done here for the individuals....Chelsea Goldschrafe of Ramapo sat in the rain all last night at the Ramapo-Lakeland fb game. She is defending state champ, like Pascack, she isn't the favorite today. Like Pascack, I think she will win.
One more thing, because of the big day yesterday, my story was cut that ran in the paper, so I thought I would repost it here....
By DARREN COOPER
STAFF WRITER
FLEMINGTON – This time, it wasn’t even close.
Pascack Valley Regional, the fourth-year co-op program, claimed the team state gymnastics title by more than a point over five-time defending champion Bishop Ahr Friday night at Hunterdon Central.
Pascack finished with a 113.25, while Bishop Ahr was second with a 111.975.
“I am shocked by that,” said Pascack coach Chari Hunter. “I really didn’t think we would be that far ahead.”
Shocked would be an apt description of the girls on Pascack when the final team scores were announced and they took the center podium.
“It’s just surreal I guess,” said junior Meagan Phelan. “It’s amazing.”
“No, I can’t believe it,” said junior Tara Rosenberg. “It’s a weight off my shoulders.”
Going into the meet, Hunter wasn’t sure what to expect. Scores throughout the state were tremendous this year, with Hillsborough setting a state record with a 114.7 – they finished third Friday with a 111.875 – and Bishop Ahr posting a 114.425 at the North II
“I really didn’t know. I hadn’t seen anybody else, so I wasn’t really sure,” Hunter said. “I knew we would be up there.”
It took a team effort to dethrone Bishop Ahr and that’s just what Hunter got. Both teams were close after the first rotation, the vault, but Pascack slowly built up a lead, getting a 9.6 from Rosenberg
And while they were putting up good scores, the girls were keeping an eye on the Trojans numbers.
“I knew I hit all my skills and I didn’t have any big mistakes, but I thought it was still close,” said Rosenberg
“We were also watching Hillsborough and Hunterdon Central because we knew they were good,” said Ruzich. “But we knew we had something.”
Last year, the team state title wasn’t determined until the last dance with Bishop Ahr edging Pascack by .025. That was part of Pascack’s motivation.
“We just tried so hard this year, because .025 is not a lot and we knew we could do it, so we just went out and tried our best,” said Phelan.
Pascack became the first Bergen County Ridgewood Pascack Valley
“It won’t be the same,” said Rosenberg
Team Scores: 1. Pascack Valley Washington
Great job girls. They round by round scores were announced to the crowd at the PV-Paramus football game last night. And when it was announced that they won, the crowd in the stands, especially the student section, really cheered loud. Congratulations!
Posted by: PV Fan | November 15, 2008 at 09:33 PM