MOHEGAN LAKE, N.Y. - On Thursday, Jan. 15, the John Jay–Somers–Yorktown combined team hosted Wappingers at Dynamic Gymnastics. Although the team is smaller than it has been in recent seasons, its performance showed no signs of decline.
“We’re still nailing it out there,” said John Jay senior Kayla Cambareri — a claim the visitors could confirm firsthand.
John Jay–Somers–Yorktown won the meet, 174.8–166.85.
Competing on the floor, Somers senior Kaitlin Gannon delivered a strong routine, earning a 9.70.
“I did my landings very well,” Gannon said. “I stuck them.”
She followed with an 8.45 on the beam, though she acknowledged some inconsistency.
“My beam connection was a little wobbly,” she said. Still, Gannon kept things in perspective. “I’m getting better and putting in the work.”
With this being her final season, Gannon said her goals extend beyond medals.
“I’m just making sure I’m being as confident as possible and that I’m having a lot of fun, because this is my last year,” she said.
Cambareri, also in her final season, opened on the floor with an emphasis on precision.
“I focused on my foot positioning,” said the John Jay senior.
She scored a 9.20 on the floor and added a solid 9.15 on the vault. Looking ahead, Cambareri has her sights set on the postseason.
“I want to improve my new skills on the bars and floor and get my beam more consistent,” she said.
Last year’s postseason was cut short by a broken toe, but Cambareri remains undeterred.
“You just have to do what you have to do,” she said.
That resilience was on display from teammate Rita Haitoff, who stumbled during her floor routine but finished strong.
“She kept going. She was strong, and that’s the definition of gymnastics,” Gannon said.
Yorktown junior Arianna Gulli was pleased with her performance on the bars.
“I made my full routine and completed my giant,” she said.
Competing in more events this season has been a positive step forward.
“I’m competing in more events and exceeding,” said Gulli.
She also credited the team’s chemistry.
“We all get along very well, and everyone is friendly,” she said.
Gulli is hoping that progress leads to qualification for divisionals and sectionals, a goal shared by Yorktown sophomore Ciara Burch.
“I have to be more consistent,” Burch said.
She showed that consistency on the beam, scoring an 8.90.
“I did well with my back over, back handspring,” she said.
Burch also earned an 8.25 on the floor, performing to Kanye West’s “All the Lights.”
“It’s very upbeat,” she said. “There’s a lot going on.”
She’s aiming to bring that same energy to the vault.
“It takes a lot of power,” Burch said, noting she plans to work on her sprint to the springboard — an adjustment that could help the team continue its success.
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