Local Gymnasts Finish Careers after State Championships

From Tumble Techs Gymnastics Academy of Fairfield:

While most 18-year-old persons are coasting through the last semester of high school, graduating senior gymnasts Marissa Corso of West Caldwell and Marisa Lakin of Verona were spending hours in the gym preparing for the final competition of their gymnastics careers.

From a very early age, both athletes fell in love with a sport that demands power, strength, flexibility, grace, agility and, above all, perseverance. The years and years of hard work and dedication culminated at the recent JOGA (Jersey Optional Gymnastics Association) State Championships, held April 30 through May 1 in Hamilton, N.J. Joining Corso and Lakin at the state meet were Verona residents Sofia Albanese, Harmonie Chang, Grace Russo and Emma Yee, Jacqueline Dremel of West Caldwell and Isabella Stile of Little Falls.

Corso capped off her career as two-time state floor champion as well as finishing third on vault, fourth in the all-around and eighth on balance beam. Lakin totaled her highest all-around of the season, while finishing second on vault and third on balance beam. Teammate Isabella Stile was crowned all-around state champion, while also finishing first on vault and balance beam. Sofia Albanese added a balance beam state title to the medal count, and Emma Yee finished third on balance beam as well. In all, the girls, who train six hours per week at Tumble Techs Gymnastics Academy of Fairfield, brought home 20 medals and a top 10 finish in the team competition.

While their teammates are now returning to the gym to train new skills and upgrade their routines during the off-season, Marissa and Marisa are looking back on their accomplishments, yet setting their sights on the future. Corso will be attending Salisbury University in the fall of 2016, while Lakin will be majoring in nursing at Florida State University. Although their gymnastics careers may be behind them, the lessons that these gymnasts have learned and the challenges they have overcome will serve them well in their college years and beyond.

“These are two very special athletes who have grown into intelligent, inspiring young women,” said JOGA coach Nicole Giangrasso. “Their teammates at Tumble Techs have been so fortunate to have them as role models and practices just won’t be the same without them.”