By RICH FISHER
Contributing Editor
With the most exciting and demanding portion of the high school gymnastics season having arrived, St. John Vianney is showing it’s ready to meet the high standards established for itself.
The Holmdel school reclaimed the Shore Conference Tournament title Oct. 25 by edging Middletown South, 113.550 to 111.075 at Brick Memorial. It was the Lancers fifth SCT championship in nine years and first since 2023, and it avenged their only dual meet loss in what was a 9-1 regular season.
The title served as a springboard into the Nov. 1 NJSIAA Section C meet at Scotch Plains High School, as SJV will try and win its first sectional title since ’23. The Lancers – ranked No. 1 in the state by nj.com – suffered a rare off-year last season, finishing fourth in the SCT and sectionals and seventh in states.
“Last year was an interesting year but it was it was probably one of our best years in so many other ways,” program founder and coach Tracie Vaz said. “This year we had a feeling. We have a full load now, we’re almost there.”
Leading the way was Sierra Vaz, a freshman who has been around the program longer than the seniors. Sierra is the coach’s daughter and has been waiting for most of her life to be part of mom’s program. She excelled in her first big meet, finishing fourth all-around with a score of 38.025. Vaz won the beam (9.7), was fourth on vault (9.55), fifth on bars (9.4) and 7th on floor (9.375).
As an 8-year old, Sierra Vaz was excited to pose back in 2019 with St. John Vianney All-Around Individual State Champion Grace Costello (left) and Caroline Larkin (right). Six years later, Vaz helped her mother’s Lancers team to its fifth Shore Conference Tournament title by taking fourth in all-around Oct. 25. Courtesy photo
“[High school] has been a lot for her to take in,” Vaz said. “This has been such a great experience for her and helped her grow as an athlete. It’s kept her very focused and has helped her drive … She loves being part of the team … and also the individual part. She’s set so many goals and is having fun with it.”
The coach noted she has to walk a fine line dealing with Sierra as a gymnast and a daughter. She credited long-time assistant Kim Cardinoza for her help. The two close friends competed together at Freehold Township High School and reunited to start coaching after college.
“She steps in exactly when needed,” Vaz said. “We complete each other … We have a great relationship, not just with my daughter but all the girls.”
One of those girls is junior Kate DeSimone, who was sixth all-around with a 36.95. DeSimone was second on beam (9.65), fifth on floor and sixth on bars (9.225).
“Katie is doing awesome,” Vaz said. “This is her second year at level 10, so she’s got a lot of new stuff she’s working on in club. We’ve been trying to find a balance of what she needs to do for high school and also be able to train for her higher-level skills. She met a lot of those goals at this competition.”
One of the state’s top gymnasts is SJV senior Giovannina Beltra, who won bars (9.75) and was third on vault; she received a full scholarship to Boise State University next year. Despite having to work at a high level in club to prepare for college – which curtails her high school work – Beltra wanted to be part of the team and opted to do her two best events.
“She loves this team and really has a bond with the girls,” Vaz said. “She wanted to know what she could do for us. She won the bars, which we knew she would, and she did a harder vault than any of the girls in the meet.”
Freshman Gabriella Patino and sophomore Ava Rosado finished 11th and 17th all-around, respectively, in the SCT meet. Vaz, DeSimone, Patino and Rosado have all qualified for the state meet in all-around.
“Ava is very good at vaulting and floor, two of her big events that help the team,” Vaz said. “Ella has really stepped it up. She’s good on all the events [and] one of the hardest workers in that gym.”
Senior Jordan Lackey took ninth on the bars, while sophomore Alivia Cruz, juniors Francesca Patino and Emarie Law and freshmen Taylor Blasco and Gia Shanks had strong efforts.
SJV will ride the momentum of the SCT into the sectionals. The four section team champions plus the next four best scores will advance to the state team finals at Brick Memorial Nov. 6.
“We’ll be up against Middletown South again, we have to make sure our girls stay focused this week,” Vaz said. “We want everyone to do the best they can, make sure we stay safe and hopefully we’ll have another great outcome.”
Although it did not compete for the team title, Red Bank Catholic got a strong individual effort from freshman Luciana Panaccione, who finished seventh all around with a score of 36.75, including a fifth on beam (9.5).