BOONTON, N.J. (March 25, 2024) —North Stars Gymnastics Academy’s Level 10s once again proved they are among the state’s best, earning a third-place finish at this year’s N.J. State Championship this past weekend, with its Level 9 team taking first.
After finishing as runner-up last season and capturing 13 successive first-team title championships, this year’s ranking marks the club’s 15th time consecutive on podium at the annual statewide meet. Sponsored by the USA Gymnastics New Jersey chapter of USA Gymnastics Women’s Development Program, the competition was held at Indigo Gymnastics in New Providence, N.J. in Union County.
Level 10 gymnastics is the highest level of competitive club gymnastics under the USAG Optional division. The State team award is decided by the top three individual scores per event, regardless of age group.
New Jersey had 69 Level 10 athletes compete. North Stars’ had 12 Level 10s who secured a team score of 114.875, earning them third place out of 19 clubs in the Garden State.
For Level 9, the State meet had 95 athletes from 23 clubs compete. North Stars had five Level 9s perform and earn a 112.475 team score, capturing the first-place team award.
Every North Stars athlete who competed locked in their spot for Region 7 Regionals, which represents the top qualifying respective State championship gymnasts from six states including Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. USAG Gymnastics is made up of eight regions throughout the nation.
USAG Level 10 Regionals is scheduled for April 9-12 in Virginia Beach, Va. The top seven, plus an alternate, score getters in each age group at Regionals will move on to the U.S. Women’s Development Program National Championships in Oklahoma City on May 6-10.
For Level 9, the athletes will compete April 30 to May 3 at the Savannah Convention Center Esplanade in Georgia. The 2026 Women’s Development Program Level 9 Eastern Championships is comprised of athletes from 26 Eastern states in the nation. Gymnasts who reside in the other half of the U.S., will compete at Western Championships the same weekend in Boise, Idaho.
“Our athletes each gave an outstanding effort and delivered impressive performances at the State Championship this year,” said Ashley Umberger, North Stars head team coach and club owner. “The pipeline for talent at our club is deep and our legacy of producing NCAA athletes at the highest levels and elites is known throughout the country.”
The North Stars’ Level 9 and 10 teams, ages 11 to 17, are coached by Umberger — a former two-time U.S. National Women’s Gymnastics Team member, Melissa Jones, Crystal Doherty, and professional dance coach, Miguel Solano of Complexions Ballet in New York.
Under USAG Optional rules, gymnasts can score up to a perfect 10 for each of the four events: uneven bars, balance beam, floor exercise and vault, achieving a maximum all-around score of 40. Each athlete had to earn a 34 all-around, cumulative score from all four events at the State championship, a 35.00 pre-qualifying score from this season, or a 9.0 or higher at the State meet in an individual event to receive a bid to Regionals, according to USAG-NJ.
North Stars’ Level 10 State Event, All-Around Winners and Team Members:
(Level 10 Junior Division)
Sophia Betz, 13, East Hanover (Morris County) 7th grader with North Stars Gymnastics Academy homeschool program, Jr. A
Maxine Cometa, 15, Leonia (Bergen County) sophomore with North Stars Gymnastics Academy homeschool program, Jr. A
Stella Fischer, 16, of Bridgewater (Somerset County) junior with North Stars Gymnastics Academy homeschool program, Jr. B
Lexi Miller, 11, Montville (Morris County) sixth grader with North Stars Gymnastics Academy homeschool program, Jr. A
Vault: 9.350, third place
Bars: 9.525, first place
Floor: 9.500, first place tie
AA: 37.225, third place
Aria Sanchez, 11, Boonton (Morris County) sixth grader with North Stars Gymnastics Academy homeschool program, Jr. A
Teneil Turnbull, 15, Fairview (Bergen County) sophomore with North Stars Gymnastics Academy homeschool program, Jr. B
Vault: 9.750, second place tie
Bars: 9.400, second place
Floor: 9.650, second place
Maria Verrone, 14, Parsippany (Morris County) freshman with North Stars Gymnastics Academy homeschool program
Sydnee Williams, 16, Somerset section of Franklin Township (Somerset County) junior with North Stars Gymnastics Academy homeschool program, Jr. B
(Level 10 Senior Division)
Mariyah Aranbayev, 17, of Jamaica Estates (Queens, N.Y.) senior with North Stars Gymnastics Academy homeschool program, Sr. A. Rutgers University commit
Vault: 9.825, second place
Floor: 9.525, third place
AA: 38.225, second place
Olivia Codey, 17, Essex Fells (Essex County) junior with North Stars Gymnastics Academy homeschool program, Sr. A
Floor: 9.625, second place
AA: 37.575, third place
Jamie McDonough, 17, Palisades Park (Bergen County) junior with North Stars Gymnastics Academy homeschool program, Sr. A. The University of Alabama commit
Bars: 9.550, third place
Emma Roppatte, 17, of Essex Fells (Essex County) junior at North Stars Gymnastics Academy homeschool program, Sr. A. Arizona State University commit
Vault: 9.675, third place
North Stars’ Level 9 State Event, All-Around Winners and Team Members:
(Junior Division)
Charlotte DeSantis, 13, Denville (Morris County) seventh grader with North Stars Gymnastics Academy homeschool program, Jr. A
Vault: 9.800, second place
Bars: 9.450, third place tie
Ingrid Kim, 11, New Hope (Bucks County, Pa.) sixth grader at the Princeton Day School, Jr. A
Mia Rogers, 12, Scarsdale (Westchester County, N.Y.) seventh grader with North Stars Gymnastics Academy homeschool program, Jr. A
Beam: 9.450, second place
Floor: 9.550
Taylor Schlow, 13, Warren (Somerset County) eighth grader with North Stars Gymnastics Academy homeschool program, Jr. A
Vault: 9.775, third place
Bars: 9.550, second place
AA: 37.375, third place
Cleary Vinyard, 13, East Stroudsburg (Monroe County, Pa.) eighth grader with North Stars Gymnastics Academy homeschool program, Jr. A
