Newcomers bolster Oceanside gymnastics

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Four instrumental returnees and an influx of talented freshmen has Oceanside gymnastics coach Andy Morris excited about the present and future of the program.

The Lady Sailors, without the benefit of any seniors on a roster that runs 25-deep, enter the second half of the season with a 3-2 record and averaging a remarkable eight points better than last winter. Their par score of 158 ranks them fourth in Nassau County behind frontrunner Plainview, defending champion Massapequa, and upstart South Side.

“We have 13 freshmen on varsity for the first time and they proved themselves immediately,” Morris said. “When I saw some of the scores pop up during the opening meet, I was thrilled. They didn’t show any nerves and still don’t. They just go out there and compete and have fun.”

Morris said he knew, with juniors Lexi Kessler and Amanda Eidelman, sophomore Emma Gehrig, and eighth-grader Emme Ortiz, the Lady Sailors had a strong foundation in place for this season and next. Now, given the scores through the opening month, despite the absence of five-time All-County All-Around performer Kessler, he’s aiming for a top 3 finish at the Nassau team championships Feb. 15 at Massapequa.

“I don’t think we’ve been in the top three since we won it all in 2010,” Morris noted. “It’s time. We’re about to have a healthy lineup for the first time all season.”

Kessler has been dealing with various injuries but is expected back for this Friday’s rescheduled meet at Bethpage at 5 p.m. Kessler has qualified for the state meet two seasons in a row and averaged approximately 33.5 in the All-Around as a sophomore. “Lexi has been our best gymnast for years,” Morris said. “She’s very talented and a great teammate. She’s been unable to compete yet, but she put in a lot of time and effort choreographing practically all of the freshmen’s floor exercises.”

Megan Reynolds (floor and uneven bars), Jessie Brew (floor and balance beam), Katie Evans (floor and vault), Sarah Eidelman (All-Around), Megan Rugolo (All-Around) and Kayla Kessler (bars and vault) are just some of the young newcomers making a substantial impact. 

Junior Amanda Eidelman is in her fourth varsity season and achieved All-County status on floor and bars. She posted a career-best 9.25 floor routine in a loss to Plainview on Jan. 11.

Sophomore Emma Gehrig has reached the county qualifier score in three events and has time to add beam to the mix. She’s also a fourth-year member of the varsity and hit a key move on her floor routine to score 8.75.

 Eighth-grader Emme Ortiz showed lots of promise at the varsity level a year ago and picked up where she left off, Morris said. She’s producing consistent high scores on floor, bars and vault.

“I retired from teaching, but I’m glad every afternoon I get to go to school and work with such a great bunch of kids,” Morris said. “Knowing the entire team will be back next season is really exciting.”