Carbone Finishes SBHS Gymnastics Career in Style

After a successful three-year run for the South Brunswick High School gymnastics team, Lindsay Carbone finished her career in ultimate style. The senior gymnast captured the all-around championship at the Greater Middlesex Conference Gymnastics Championships, held Oct. 22 at South Brunswick High School.

"It was just a really great feeling and I'm very proud of it," Carbone said. "Winning the all-around was the perfect way to finish my senior year."

On her way to the title, Carbone finished first on the balance beam, fifth in uneven bars, and sixth in the vault and floor exercise for a total score of 37.425. The all-round title was even sweeter after she finished second at in the GMC last year.

"Last year at states I got hurt doing the vault after I landed on my neck and flipped over, there weren't any injuries, but I definitely get nervous," she said. "It was really scary, so I just block it out and think about what I have to do instead of what could happen."

Carbone was first team All-State in 2009 and tied for fourth in the state. She finished 17th in the state in 2010.

"My thoughts going into the GMC were to have fun and do my best," she said. "I didn't really have any expectations of winning, I just wanted to have fun and hit all the events. As the competition went on I thought I had a chance. After the last event, when the coaches were adding up the scores and they called my name, it was just really unexpected. It was an awesome feeling."

Carbone, who was also the 2011 Indoor and Outdoor Track GMC Pole Vault Champion, said she will probably look to continue her career in pole vaulting when she heads off to college next year. She said her GMC title was the perfect last chapter to her stellar run as a Viking gymnast.

"It's bittersweet, I've had a lot of assistance from my coaches, and gymnastics has always been a part of me, so for it to end is kind of sad," Carbone said. "But I'm happy I had a really good four years, and had some records and titles. I bonded with my teammates and it's been a really great experience.

"I'm going to really miss it all, handling the pressure and that adrenaline rush you get in the intensity of the moment."