Melissa Ricciardi competes on the beam at the 2017 North 1 Sectionals.
County title highlights Pascack’s season
PVRG ends eight year drought after undefeated regular season
Editor’s Note: Wrap-ups for the remaining fall sports will be available for viewing in the coming days.
Sport: Gymnastics
Record: 10-2
Coach: Allison Petaccia
Season Overview: After a strong 2017 campaign which included a League title, Pascack Regional came back with an even better season in 2018. Pascack won all nine of its dual-meets, including a narrow 106.375-106.3 victory against the Academy of the Holy Angels. After its undefeated regular season, Pascack edged out AHA again, 106.025-105.375 in the Bergen County Tournament. Pascack Regional’s county tournament win is their first since 2010 and comes after back-to-back second place finishes. After winning Counties, Pascack finished second to the Holy Angels in both Leagues and the North 1 Sectional.
Though Pascack missed out on the State Tournament as a team, Maya Horowitz and Melissa Riccardi both competed at the Individual Tournament. Ricciardi placed in the top eight on bars, while Horowitz competed in the All-around.
Ricciardi and Ashley Lowe received both First Team All-County and First Team All-League honors. Marissa McGrane and Amanda Solda both took home Second Team All-League.
Key returnees for next season: Maya Horowitz, Amanda Solda, Ashley Lowe
Key losses for next season: Ricciardi and McGrane
Best win of the Season: After being the runner-up in 2016 and 2017, Pascack edged out the Holy Angels to win the Bergen County Tournament. Petaccia described the win as the “pinnacle” of Pascack’s season. Petaccia also noted that the dual-meet win against AHA was a highlight on the season.
“It’s been a long time since we took counties,” Petaccia said. “So it was a big accomplishment for the girls.”
What to look forward to for next year: While Pascack will lose two four-year starters in Ricciardi and McGrane, they will still return an experienced team. Some younger gymnasts will have to step up to fill the voids if Pascack Regional hopes to compete with AHA at the top of North Jersey gymnastics.
“Next season we’re going to have a younger team,” Petaccia said. “We’re looking for some of these younger athletes to step up and be leaders.”