No Place Like Home: Ridge Gymnasts Host 1st Meet

The Ridge High School gymnastics team opened the 2010 season Wednesday in a very special place: at home, after five years of trekking to away meets.

While Somerville won the meet by a score of 106.775 to Ridge's 102.875, senior Krisie Wei placed second overall with an all-around score of 36.625 with second- and third-place finishes in each event to lead the Red Devils.

Wednesday's homecoming opened with a rally featuring the Ridge cheerleaders and the singing of the National Anthem by Ridge senior Jessica Chan.

 "The team performed very well, but we had a few minor errors," coach Kyla Mendes said. She said she is confident that in the future, "we can find those three points [that were the difference]."

The team's next meet will also be at home against North Hunterdon High School on Tuesday, Sept. 21 at 4:30 p.m.

For the first five years of the gymnastics program, Ridge was unable to host meets because the high school lacked the officially -sanctioned equipment necessary to hold a meet. Through the hard work and dedication of students and parents, past and present, necessary funds were raised to purchase the appropriate equipment.

After years of fundraising, the team recently raised the last of the $30,000 needed to purchase the final of the four pieces of equipment: the balance beam, uneven bars, vaults and mats, to host an official NJSIAA gymnastics meets, coaches said last month.

"In the last week, we've finally been able to buy the last bit of equipment we need," said Quentin Wright, the team's co-manager. The accumulated funding, along with some financial assistance from the Ridge Booster Club, now have given the Red Devils a venue to call their own, the coaches said.

"What haven't we done?" Wright asked.

To raise funds, he said students organized numerous concession stands, a yard sale, a spot for fundraising at the annual Charter Day celebration, and even bagged and carried out groceries to earn tips.

"We had a pierogi-making session, which was very successful in making $5,000, and there's numerous other things we've done," Wright said.

The Ridge High School Booster Club has been another source of major support, purchasing the team's first beam and this year donating an additional $2,500, Wright said last month.

The team and Mendes, who is in her first year coaching the Red Devils, said at that time that hopefully the advantage of hosting meets will provide a bit of luck from previous seasons.

In its inaugural season, the team began with two girls and has now has expanded to 17 gymnasts and has won one meet during the past two seasons.

Andrew Corselli contributed to this story.