BOONTON, N.J. (Morris County) — Several athletes from North Stars Gymnastics Academy in Boonton brought home national medals this month, with standout performances on bars, beam, floor, and vault at the USA Gymnastics 2025 Development Program National Championships.
Eight Level 10 athletes represented North Stars at the national championships held May 8–11 at the Mountain America Exposition Center in Sandy, Utah. Three Level 9 athletes competed the same weekend at the Eastern Championships in Battle Creek, Michigan.
Among the top performers, Maxine Cometa, 14, of Leonia, tied for first place on the uneven bars in the Junior A division with a score of 9.700. Leah Higgins, 14, of Derry, New Hampshire, placed seventh all-around in Junior B and tied for seventh on vault. Other athletes finished in the top 10 nationally on individual events including beam, floor, and vault.
“These national awards and rankings represent the consistent hard work, dedication and commitment our athletes have shown in overcoming setbacks and pushing themselves to take their gymnastics to the next level,” said Ashley Umberger, CEO, part owner and head coach of North Stars. “We are enormously proud of their determination and resolve to become the best versions of themselves.”
Coached by Umberger, Faith Baranowski, Heather Moroz, Melissa Jones and Brielle Benoski, the 11 North Stars athletes competed as part of Region 7, which includes New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Level 10 National Medalists (Sandy, Utah):
- Maxine Cometa (Leonia, Jr. A): 1st (tie), Bars; 35.850 AA
- Leah Higgins (Derry, N.H., Jr. B): 7th (tie), AA; 7th (tie), Vault
- Stella Fischer (Bridgewater, Jr. D): 5th (tie), Beam; 37.100 AA
- Sophia Rocca (Blairstown, Jr. D): 5th (tie), Beam; 37.225 AA
- Sh’Nai Thompson (Dunellen, Sr. C): 10th (tie), Beam
- Teneil Turnbull (Fairview, Jr. B): 6th, Floor; 37.600 AA
- Maria Verrone (Parsippany, Jr. A): 9.425, Floor
- Sophia Betz (East Hanover, Jr. A): All-Star floor specialist, 9.150, Floor
Level 9 Eastern Championships Medalists (Battle Creek, Mich.):
- Lexi Miller (Montville, Jr. 1): 7th (tie), Floor; 9th, AA
- Aria Sanchez (Boonton, Jr. 1): 5th, Floor
- Sydnee Williams (Somerset, Sr. 3): 3rd, Vault; 5th (tie), Beam; 5th, AA
The Level 10 Region 7 Junior D team also took third place overall at the national championships.
