Oct 05, 2022
Saint John Vianney Gymnastics Team Begins Season
By Tim Morris
The Saint John Vianney 2021 Varsity gymnastics team won the Shore Conference Championship for the third time in program history.
Coming on the heels of another championship season, the Saint John Vianney gymnastics team has a lot to look forward to in 2022.
“I’m very excited about the season,” said Head Coach Tracie Vaz. “It’s our biggest team yet. I have 15 girls. It’s the most talent and most depth we’ve ever had.”
Not only can the Lancers go five deep on each event, but they have support in back of the starters. It’s a luxury that makes Saint John Vianney one of the teams to beat again this year.
“We have back-up scorers we haven’t had,” said Vaz. She noted that the Lancers have done quite well when they had small teams and only went three or five deep. Now with added numbers and talent, Vaz can’t wait to see what this team can do this season.
Three dynamic senior all-arounders are the core of the ’22 Lancers. The trio of Kylie Sitty, Shannon Ryan and Christina Troche led SJV to a spectacular 2021. The Lancers went the through the dual meet season undefeated (8-0) and won the Shore Conference Championship for the third time in program history. SJV finished second in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Section I meet and third at the NJSIAA Team Championship.
“[Sitty, Ryan and Troche] have matured and grown so much over the years,” Vaz said of her seniors.
Sitty was one of the state’s best all-around gymnasts in ’21, and she figures to pick up where she left off this fall and contend for championships.
“Every year [Sitty] has improved,” Vaz remarked.
Last year, Sitty was third in the AA in the conference, second in the state sectional and fifth at the individual state championships with a season’s best score of 37.65. She was co-champion on the uneven bars at the conference meet and captured the Central Jersey floor exercise championship. The senior took second on the floor in the state individual competition (9.7).
Ryan was fourth in Central Jersey on the floor and qualified for the state individual competition where she placed seventh.
Troche was named to the All-Shore Team.
This trio alone would make the Lancers dangerous, but the team has so much more. The addition of sophomore Lillian Murphy, who missed last season to an injury, gives SJV another all around performer. A large incoming class of talented freshmen is providing depth and, more importantly, will be gaining valuable varsity experience. The freshmen are Reese Albano, Christina Fallon, Jordan Lackey, Ashley Sennigen, Melanie Wavro and Jaelyn Vaz. Completing the roster are senior Ava Martocci, juniors Ashley Salvesen, Lindsay Prager, and sophomores Siya Khokhani and Asha Samuel.
Like every season, Vaz said the Lancers will be looking to peak at the conference and state meets.
