Thursday, October 1, 2026
It's a new year and a great year for Oceanside's gymnastics team.
Fifth-year coach Dakota Ejnes called 2024-25 a "growth'' campaign. But 2026 is jumping.
"This year the girls really stepped up, worked really hard in practice and that's why we're seeing such success at our meets,'' Ejnes said. "We are all working for each other rather than working for ourselves. It's being more than themselves is the theme of the season. We've progressed and everyone's matured mentally.''
The season's highlight came on Jan. 17 at the "Cartwheels for a Cure'' meet when the Sailors posted a season-high team score of 163.425, which was good for second place among the 20 Nassau schools. (The Cold Spring Harbor High event raises money for cystic fibrosis.)
"This year the whole team is a lot closer,'' said senior captain Sofia Loscalzo, "The energy is a lot higher and more hard working. Everyone's a lot more positive.''
Loscalzo has already qualified for the state meet in floor.
"Sofia's biggest quality is her leadership and positivity at every practice and meet,'' said Ejnes, a former Long Beach High star who did club gymnastics a Cortland State. "She leads by example, a great role model to the girls. She's really stepped up her game on the floor.''
This is Loscalzo's fifth season on the squad so she's seen all the highs and lows that accompany this acrobatic sport.
"Before meets, I talk to the team and hype them up,'' Loscalzo said. "A lot of gymnastics is mental, so I make sure everyone believes in themselves.''
A gymnast for the last 11 years, Loscalzo likes the floor category most. "I like to perform, show a bit of my personality and make it fun," she said.
Another Oceanside star is Adriana Auleta, a junior dual athlete also on the cheerleading team. She's committed to Baylor and will be part of the Acro and Tumbling team.
The most improvement Auleta has shown is on floor. "She got a new routine that spiced it up,'' Ejnes said. "It's super energetic and she loves to put on a show.''
In the season's first meet, Auleta posted her highest score – 9.45 versus North Shore.
Then there is freshman Anna Quinn, who performed as an eighth-grader. "She's a tremendous asset to the team,'' Ejnes said. "Her confidence brings us so much success. And she's our beam queen.''
At the Cartwheel event, Quinn posted her highest floor score of 9.05.
Two other contributors are juniors Sydney Moskowitz and Bobbi Thorne.
Oceanside has scheduled 12 dual meets. The match against Bethpage on Jan. 15 was its finest. "Every one of my girls were hitting their best performance - the vibe was so high in the gym,'' Ejnes said.
The Sailors will compete in another huge meet on deck at Ejnes' alma-mater, Long Beach. The extravaganza raises awareness for pediatric cancer.
"It's my fifth year and each year the program is improving and growing,'' Ejnes said.
