Thursday, October 1, 2026
After finishing third in the Nassau County gymnastics team championships last winter, South Side has remained a contender despite losing almost half of its roster to graduation.
The Cyclones won 7 of their first 9 meets while posting an average score of 160.7, ranking fifth in the county as the regular season winds down. They’ll compete Feb. 17 at the Nassau team championships — only eight squads qualify — at Bethpage.
“It was tough losing nine seniors but we’ve had some kids really step up,” South Side coach Ashley Harney said. “Knock on wood we’ve been pretty healthy and consistent. We’re looking to finish strong.”
Two days before the team finals, the Cyclones will have a handful of gymnasts at the state qualifier meet hosted by Roslyn. Last season, there was no state championships due to the pandemic. Instead, a Long Island championship took its place.
“Unofficially, we’ll have four girls on vault, beam and floor, and one on bars for the state qualifier,” Harney noted.
Senior captain Payton Waller, who has state meet experience on floor exercise, is a sixth-year varsity gymnast and South Side’s leading scorer in the all-around. “She’s always showed really strong leadership skills in addition to being a very talented gymnast,” Harney said of Waller, who has scored 34.5 in the all-around, 9.4 on floor, 8.9 on balance beam, 8.3 on vault, and 8.0 on bars. “Her floor routine is special,” she added. “It’s common for another coach or even a judge to comment on it.”
Junior Kendall Pinsky came into the program with an extensive dance background, Harney said, and that allowed her to be a prominent scorer on floor immediately. She also stepped up last winter and developed into a high all-around scorer. Entering the last few meets she has a high of 33.4. “It’s only her second varsity season but she has gymnastics experience and she’s been able to put it all together,” Harney said of Pinsky, who has highs of 9.3 on floor, 8.65 on beam, 8.2 on vault, and 7.4 on bars
Another junior, Katie Connors, has evolved from a beam specialist to one of South Side’s top all-around performers. Led by a 9.1 on floor, she’s posted a high all-around of 32.2. She’s also hit 8.2 on both vault and beam.
Sophomore Erin McCarthy has posted some impressive scores on bars and floor, Harney said, and competed in the all-around in several meets to help the Cyclones to victory. Her highest floor score so far is 8.9.
Harney said Mia DiSalvo, a 7th-grader, is a “powerhouse” and the team’s leading vaulter heading into the state qualifier. DiSalvo’s front handspring vault scored an 8.45 recently and she’s produced 8.4 on beam as well. Sophomores Alex Griffo and Cassie Hawkins have frequented the scoresheet on vault and bars.
Senior Tara Sullivan’s highest beam score of 8.7 has her on the verge of going to the state qualifier for the first time in her high school career. “She’s a really hard worker with a great attitude,” Harney said.
