Trojans make it four in a row, and in style

CHRIS KELLY staff Bishop Ahr's Nicole Schwartz competes on the balance beam during Saturday's state championship meet at Rutgers University.

As if winning a fourth consecutive team state championship wasn't enough, the Bishop Ahr gymnastics team had to set a meet record in the process.

But the Lady Trojans, the state's top-ranked team heading into the Nov. 11 event at Rutgers University, needed every bit of that 112.425 meet record score to hold off second-place Red Bank Catholic (111.7), who incidentally is the only other team in state history to win four team titles in a row.

While Bishop Ahr was led by Tiara Land's fourth-place finish in the all-around (37.925), it really took a total team effort to secure the championship. Nicole Schwartz (37.425) and Jahni Stasil (37.425) tied for eighth in the AA, while Lauren Moroch (35.375) and Kelly Magnus (34.350) were also solid. Their collective effort was not quite as strong as their state record 113.900-point performance in the Central Jersey 2 meet, but it was enough to make them four-time champions.

The Trojans excelled on the vault and floor. Land was the top performer on the vault, taking second with a score of 9.8 (Ridgewood's Chelsea Steinberg, the all-around champ, won the event with a 9.85), while Schwartz was also strong with a 9.450.

On the floor exercise, Stasil led the way with a 9.675, which was second to only Howell's Austyn Fobes (9.7). Land also came up big on the floor, scoring a 9.6, which was good enough for fourth, while Schwartz took 10th with a 9.425. Their performances on the floor were especially impressive when you consider it came during their final rotation, with the Trojans holding a slight .45 lead over RBC, who was competing on the vault.

Schwartz also took 10th on the uneven bars (9.375), while Stasil took 10th on the balance beam (9.350).

With their fourth title under wraps, the Lady Trojans can start thinking about next season, when they attempt to become the first team in state history to win five state championships in a row. And with plenty of firepower returning, the Trojans will certainly be in the mix once again.