Holmdel's Eric Manning, Gymnastics State Champ

Eric Manning, a 6th grade student at Indian Hill School, won first place all-around at the NJ State Championship for Men's Gymnastics in Level 8 on Saturday, March 17. The event was held at Colts Neck High School.

The 12-year old also won first place in the individual events of rings, parallel bars and high bar.

Eric trains more than 25 hours a week at Monmouth Gymnastics Academy in Morganville, NJ with his coach Yuriy Aminov. Practice is held year round, with a week off for winter break and two weeks at the beginning of summer. During one of those weeks he goes to the International Gymnastics Camp in PA.

He is the son of Shawn and Cindy Manning. "This accomplishment is a result of years of hard work on Eric's part," said his mother, Cindy. Eric has been involved in gymnastics since the age of six. she said. "We are very proud of him," she said.

Eric is also the brother of  Caitlyn, a 7th grader, and Emmett, a 4th grader.

To win the championship, Eric has to go up against all the other Level 8 gymnasts in the state of NJ.  

He has steadily been climbing in the standings. Just last year, he was ranked fourth as a level 7.

His mother says Eric hopes to continue in the sport through college, and then who knows?  He's not ruling out the Olympics 2020, but there is a long road before he would get there, she said.  

His stats at the meet:

• Floor - 2nd place with a 12.8 Pommel Horse
• 2nd place with a 12.4 Rings
• 1st with 12.4 Vault
• 5th with 12.5 Parallel Bars 
• 1st with 13.0 High Bar
• 1st with 11.6 All Around
• 1st with 74.7  

In April, he will be competing in the Regional Championship against the top gymnasts from 7 states (NJ, NY, PA, MD, VA, DE, WV) at the West Point Military Academy.