Wayne Hills Four-peats as Passaic County Gymnastics Champions

West Milford - 2019, 2021, 2022, and now 2023.  Wayne Hills won their fourth consecutive Passaic County gymnastics championship (2020 was cancelled due to COVID) eking out crosstown rival Wayne Valley by a tenth of a point, 97.100-97.000, at West Milford High School.

While Hills' performance was not as dominant as last year's, when, the now graduated, Jacqueline Bernard won every individual event title for Wayne Hills, the Patriots used a total team effort to secure this year's crown.

"I was completely surprised to find out we won the meet," Wayne Hills Hills Head Coach Cathy Peter said.  "Wayne Valley beat us in our dual meet.  The team worked hard over the past few weeks to improve their routines and correct any deductions."

Peter later added, "I am so proud of the whole team for stepping up to win counties this year."

Wayne Hills was led by Miyuki Dan and Mya Tsbol.  Dan finished second in both the all-around with a 32.475 and balance beam with an 8.752, while adding top-10 finishes on the vault and uneven bars.  Tsbol took top honors on floor exercise, her lone event of the evening, with an 8.325.

Passaic Valley's Kourtney Matheis won the Passaic County all-around title. (Photo by Christopher Shannon - JSN)

Wayne Valley, the team runner-up, was paced by Madeline Voinov and Bianca Riccobono.  Voinov finished third in the all-around with a 32.425 while placing in the top-10 on every event, with top-5 finishes on the vault (4th, 8.400), balance beam (5th, 8.525), and floor (5th, 8.000).  Riccobono finished fifth in the all-around with a 32.150, third on the bars with a 7.800 and fourth on the beam with an 8.550.  Riccobono also finished in the top-10 on the floor.

Host, West Milford, finished third in the team race with a 96.100.  The Highlanders were led by Madeline Park.  Park took home top honors on the vault with an 8.650, tied Dan for second on the beam, and placed third on the floor with an 8.050.  In the all-around, Park finished fourth with a 32.325.

Passaic Valley's Kourtney Matheis was the Passaic County all-around champion finishing with an even 33.  Matheis also won the uneven bars with an 8.000 and the beam with an 8.875. 

Other top-3 individual event finishers included Clifton's Briana Zalawadia and Melinda Tajerian who placed second and third respectively on the vault, Wayne Hills' Audrey Marnick who finished second on the bars, and Wayne Valley's Julianna Cannici who finished second on the floor.

Rounding out the team scores, Clifton finished in fourth with a score of 91.250 and Passaic Valley finished in fifth with a score of 86.050.

For more scenes from the 2023 Passaic County Gymnastics Championship, check out more of Christopher Shannon's images from the meet.

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Christopher Shannon

Christopher is a professional photographer based in Northern Jersey who specializes in sports photography.In addition to making appearances along sidelines in the northern half of the Garden State, he can often be seen on the sidelines at West Point photographing Army sporting events.His favorite events that he has covered in his career include Penn State football White Outs and Army-Navy football games.

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