HILLSBOROUGH – The school year may have just started, but the No. 4 Hillsborough gymnastics team got an early test when No. 9 Bridgewater-Raritan visited Hillsborough High School for an early-season top-10 battle. The Raiders were up to the task, defeating the Panthers 109.950 – 107.700.
B-R’s Alison Lardieri was the top individual performer of the meet, winning three of four events and taking top all-around honors with a 36.975. However, a more balanced team effort from Hillsborough ultimately proved to be the difference that led the Raiders to victory.
Lardieri took home top honors on the vault with a 9.55. She was followed by three Hillsborough gymnasts in second and third place. Emily Minetti came in second with a 9.4, while Hailey Womack and Aysia Lee finished tied for third with identical 9.1s.
Lardieri, again, took the top spot on the uneven bars, placing first with a 9.6. Hillsborough’s Emily Baum and Erin Gengler, who also competed in the all-around for the Raiders, took second and third on the bars with a 9.45 and 8.75, respectively.
Sierra Marce tallied a 9.55 to finish first on the balance beam for Bridgewater-Raritan. Minetti took second on the beam for Hillsborough with a 9.325, and Gengler rounded out the top-3 on the event with a 9.3.
Lardieri finished her afternoon first on the floor exercise with a 9.425 for the Panthers. Minetti finished second on the floor for the Raiders with a 9.35. Gengler and Marce finished in a tie for third on the floor with matching 9.3s.
With the win, Hillsborough starts their season 1-0 and will next host South Brunswick on Tuesday, while Bridgewater-Raritan begins their season 0-1 and will look to rebound when they travel to Hunterdon Central on Wednesday.
