Colonial gymnasts win B North title

Emily Knight expected a great season for her Freehold Borough gymnastics team and so far, it has been just that.

The Colonials have won the Shore ConferenceBNorthDivision title and are undefeated in dual meets (9-0). They scored a school record of 109.025 points in their most recent win over Freehold Township (105.75).

Freehold Borough's 109+ score ranks in the top 10 in the state and makes them a contender at Saturday's Shore Conference Championships at Brick Memorial. Only Howell, which has put up a score of 111 is higher ranked.

"We're having a really good season," said Knight. "Winning the division was our main goal."

Freshman sensation Danielle Verdon is a big reason the team won the division title and she is a threat to the defending champion Austyn Fobes of Howell in the SC all-around competition. She had an all-around score of 37.5 in the win over Freehold Township.

Verdon is one of five freshmen who have helped lift a team that was 14-1 last year.

The Colonials are deep in the AA with senior Nicole Panzarino and juniors Lindsey Gumann and Alex Puntolillo proven performers in their own right.

Freehold Borough has eight gymnasts who will be competing individually in the Shore and state sectional (Nov. 8 at Manalapan High School). Julianne Vignola, Laure Gallo, Damoci and Vold have joined Verdon, Panzarino, Puntolillo and Gumann.

Freehold Borough clinched the B North championship beating Monmouth Regional, 106.95-98.675 on Oct. 16.

The Colonials finished first in every event with Verdon winning the vault (9.55), floor exercise (9.375) and balance beam (9.2) and Guman taking the uneven bars (8.825).

Panzarino and Puntolillo chipped in with top three finishes as the Colonials went 6-0 in the division.

Earlier in the season, Freehold Borough overcame its biggest hurdle, Ocean Township.

It was the Spartans who handed the Colonials their only loss of 2007 en route to a 14-1 dual meet record. The loss not only spoiled a perfect season, but even more excruciating, cost them the division title. That was very much on the Colonials' minds on Oct. 7 when they hosted the Spartans. Freehold Borough avenged that '07 loss beating Ocean Township, 108.950-105.250.

Verdon finished first in three eventsvault (9.4), floor exercise (9.15) and uneven bars (9.4).

Panzarino scored in all four events for the Colonials taking third on the vault (9.1) and floor (9.05) and second on t he beam (9.0) and bars (9.25).

Puntolillo and Gumann also had top three finishes. Puntolillo was second on the floor (9.1) and third on the bars (8.8). Gumann tied for third on the beam (8.95).