No. 1 Marlboro earns 1st sectional title since ’00, RFH’s Lindgren takes all-around

On one hand, Rumson-Fair Haven's Natalie Lindgren came up just short in three individual events, taking runner-up honors in all along with a third-place finish on the balance beam.

But eight ways to Sunday, Lindgren would trade in that cumulatively strong performance for the all-around title that she won.

Consistently good across the board, Lindgren took home the coveted all-around title at the NJSIAA Central Jersey sectional gymnastics championships at Hillsborough High School on Saturday afternoon.

Lindgren's average of 38.25 was tops, as she edged out Ava Trezza of Middletown South by less than eight one-hundredths of a point for the title. Trezza won the individual floor and vault events for a terrific day in her own right.

Each of the last two years, Lindgren took runner-up honors in the all-around hunt with scores just under 38, but she finally broke through to the top as a senior. Lindgren's only other sectional title came with the uneven bars as a sophomore in 2022.

"I really wasn't focused on necessarily winning the individual events, but just doing the best routines I could possibly do," said Lindgren. "I was feeling good when I figured out I had a 38.25. It's my first all-around title in high school finally and it feels really special."

Marlboro – the top-ranked team in the NJ.com Top 20 – edged out No. 4 Middletown South by half a point in the team race, racking up 111.275 team points compared to the Eagles' 110.675. It was a historic day for the Mustangs, as they captured their first sectional crown since 2000.

The last No. 1 ranking for Marlboro came a year earlier in 1999, and it will go for that crown Thursday. The team champions at all four state sectionals, plus the four other teams with the highest scores from all sectionals combined, move on to the State Team Championships at Brick Memorial.

The top six finishers in each event and the all-around standings, plus any gymnast with an all-around score of 36 or higher, advance to the State Individual Championships next Saturday, also at Brick Memorial.

Leading the way for the Mustangs was sophomore Dana Imperial, who defended her individual beam title and captured her first uneven bars crown with it, all on her way to a third-place finish all-around.

"Dana is a powerhouse already, and she's just a sophomore. But what's key is our team's depth doesn't put as much pressure on her," said Marlboro coach Marian Fontanilla. "Karen Young, Bri Diaz, and others on our team provide so much depth. If we can get that top-ranking next week, I think that will be a big reason why."

Only a freshman, Trezza made quite a statement by winning the floor with a 9.8 and the vault with a 9.75. A 9.2 score for fourth in the uneven bars likely dropped her just below Lindgren, but Trezza could find herself atop the podium quite more often over the next three years.

Eighth-ranked St. John Vianney – always a powerhouse but fourth in the team race this year with 108.1 points – saw Kate DeSimone register its strongest performance by taking fourth in the All-around. DeSimone's best showing was third in the uneven bars, where she finished with a 9.3 total. She also finished seventh in both the floor and beam to secure the top five overall finish.

Young and Diaz, providing that extra layer of depth for Marlboro, took fifth and sixth respectively, in the all-around. Marlboro went 3-4-5 in the floor exercise, with Diaz (9.755) edging out Imperial (9.55) and Young (9.525) for third in the intra-squad race in that event.

Host Hillsborough, ranked No. 6, took third overall with 109.325 points behind two top five finishers. The Raiders' best was Ashley Womack, who took third on the vault with a 9.5. Madeleine Bienstock finished tied for fourth with a 9.225 score, drawing the same score of Midd South's Cameryn Czwakiel.

Trinity Hall, which did not field a full team but sent several individuals, also had a top five finisher in Addison Berowski, who took fourth on the vault with a 9.425 score.