Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA Gymnastics Team Celebrates a Strong Season Finish

The Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA (FSPY) Gymnastics Team had a stellar competitive season, participating in seven meets where each athlete rose to the occasion and delivered strong performances.

The team concluded their season on June 7 and 8 at the 2025 NJ YMCA State Gymnastics Championship.

The weekend began at the Somerville YMCA Bronze/Silver Meet, where our Silver Team placed 3rd overall with a team score of 109.5.

Lily Romond placed 3rd on Uneven Bars with a score of 9.3, 4th on Balance Beam, and finished with an All-Around score of 36.45. Chloe Tomlinson earned 3rd place in Vault with a 9.35 and tied for 3rd on Uneven Bars with a 9.3. Zoe Alagia placed 5th on both Balance Beam and Floor in the 8–9 year-old age bracket. Zoe Brue, in the age 11 bracket, also contributed significantly to the team's success with a fantastic showing.

Coach Alyssa Griguoli, who has been with the team for two years, shared, “Our girls truly went the distance this season. It's incredible to see how much they've improved; their dedication really shone through."

Our Gold and Platinum Teams followed on Sunday morning at the Madison YMCA.

The Gold Team, comprised of Kate Clark and Cailee Rudyk, performed exceptionally well and showed notable progress, even though they didn’t make the podium this time.

Coach Sara Banasiak, who began her gymnastics journey with the Fanwood-Scotch Plains program, said, “I love being able to share my experiences with them, not just the successes, but also the challenges and how to push through them. It's incredibly rewarding to watch them grow, not only as athletes but as confident young individuals. Knowing I can guide them through what I've already experienced, and help them fall in love with this sport just as I did, that's what makes coaching so fulfilling.”

The Platinum Team, consisting of four gymnasts in the Junior Age Bracket and two in the Senior Age Bracket, followed up with a strong performance, also earning 3rd place with a score of 100.2.

In the Junior Age Bracket, Milan Fevrier placed 2nd on Vault with a 9.45 and 4th on Beam with an 8.6, finishing 5th All-Around with a 34.75. Yashika Rastogi earned 5th place on Floor with a 9.0. Ryley Mathisen placed 6th on Vault, and Emma Papernik placed 7th All-Around.

In the Senior Age Bracket, Avery Salinger scored 8.6 on Floor for a 7th place finish, and Mia Sheier finished 7th on Vault with an 8.65.

Jennifer Glander, Director of the Sports and Fine Arts Department at FSPY, remarked, “Every point, even in a tough competition, reflects the hours of practice, focus, and sheer determination poured into their routines. While a medal is always exciting, the real victory is seeing that dedication translate into strong performances. It tells us we're on the right track, and it's a huge step forward for their confidence and continued growth. It’s what our program strives to do.”

New for the 2024–2025 season, the FSPY Gymnastics Team welcomed seven driven gymnasts to join its new Pre-Team. These athletes trained three hours per week from December to May, preparing for their debut in sparkly new leotards. On May 10, 2025, they showcased their skills at their inaugural event hosted by the South Mountain YMCA, performing in front of friends, family, and judges alongside over 40 other competitors. Each gymnast competed on all four events and earned recognition for great form, artistic presentation, and sparkling performances.

Congratulations to the following gymnasts who were just invited to join the Gymnastics Team for the 2025–2026 season:

Alexandra Canovic, Katherine Dantas, Lily Moser, Tanvi Prasad, Isabella Santos, Mufaro Sanyangore, and Leah Wright.

This is a great time to begin or continue taking gymnastics at the Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA! Summer class registration is now open for all levels, from preschool through youth. New offerings include Acro/Tumbling for ages 7+, a Gymnastics Dance combo class for preschoolers, and a variety of sports programs like archery, basketball, and Mini Ninja Warrior. See the summer brochure on our website for more details. Call (908) 889-8880 for more information about gymnastics at the YMCA.

The Y is the nation’s leading nonprofit committed to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. For information on membership or programs, or to request a schedule of classes, please call the Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA at (908) 889-8880 or visit www.fspymca.org. Financial assistance is available for those who qualify.