Standout gymnast Giameo will continue in college at Maryland; Roselle Park junior and 'A' student will next compete in Chicago on Feb. 13

By JR Parachini

Union County Sports Editor

Accomplished gymnast Stephanie Giameo of Roselle Park, 16, has already excelled quite a bit in 2010.

However, it was at the end of 2009 that the United States of America Gymnastics (USAG) Level 10 performer made a decision that will impact her in the years to come.

On Nov. 29, the Roselle Park High Schooljunior verbally committed to a full athletic scholarship to the University of Maryland.

Giameo, who trains at Eastern National Academy in Paramus, was also being scouted by Rutgers, Brown, Michigan, the Air Force Academy and a few others.

“I chose Maryland because I like the fact that they are very good in gymnastics and academics,” said Giameo, who plans on signing her letter-of-intent to continue at Maryland when the signing period begins in November.

Giameo, who maintains an “A” average and is also the Executive Board Vice President of her junior class, will graduate from Roselle Park in June of 2011, right before her 18^th birthday on July 1. She will begin her career as a student-athlete at Maryland in the fall of 2011.

“They invited me for a visit in October and it just felt like home to me,” Giameo said of her trip to College Park. “Everything felt so comfortable from the coaches, to the facilities and the teams and the girls. I knew right away that I loved it there.”

Giameo also visited Rutgers after an invite to the Piscataway campus and said that Michigan kept in contact with her as well.

“Rutgers and Maryland came to my gym and watched me work out and both offered full scholarships,” Giameo said. “After one practice I called theMaryland coach and he then invited me for a visit.”

Brett Nelligan is in his seventh season at Maryland and the first as the head coach. The NCAA women’s gymnastics season is in the winter.

Of the 17 girls’ on this season’s 2009-2010 roster one hails from New Jersey, with that gymnast being freshman Brooke Grohol of Freehold and Red Bank Catholic.

“At the end of the visit Maryland offered me a full scholarship,” Giameo said. “It was such a great feeling. It was very exciting and overwhelming. I didn’t even expect it.”

Giameo, who began her gymnastics career at the tender age of 3 and who originally trained at Sunburst in Union, desired to go away to school, but not that far away, which is one reason why Maryland won out over a little too close to home Rutgers and a bit too far away Michigan.

“Maryland is the perfect distance for me,” Giameo said. “I want to be able to feel what college life is like away.

“Maryland is not too far away, so my family and friends can visit me and I can come home on weekends. Michigan, although it’s a great school, would have meant getting on a plane to go back and forth and would not have been as easy.”

Giameo was impressed by Nelligan, who was a gymnastics standout at the University of Massachusetts before graduating in 2003. Nelligan became the fourth head coach in Maryland’s 34-year history beginning May 1 of last year, following the retirement of his father Bob Nelligan.

“He has a great outlook on the team and he’s been hoping to move the team up a few spots in the rankings,” Giameo said. “He has high hopes and determination. He’s a great coach and I’m excited that I will be coached by him.”

Giameo began her competition season by placing second All Around at 37.125 at the 2010 Rutgers Color Games. She also placed first on Uneven Bars at 9.5 and second on Balance Beam at 9.15 and Floor Exercise at 9.625.

In January, Giameo competed at the Hill’s Maryland Classic, placing second in the All Around, Balance Beam and Floor Exercise. She also qualified for the Event Finals.

On Jan. 30, Giameo competed at the Parkette Invitational in Allentown,Pa. where she captured the Gold Medal on the Balance Beam with a score of 9.55. She also earned Bronze Medals for scores of 37.175 in the All Around and 9.7 on the Floor Exercise.

Giameo sparked her team to a fourth place finish, which earned the squad a cash prize of $1,000.

The Parkette Invitational is one of the most prestigious competitions in the USA. A team must earn its spot to compete in the final session where the National/Elite team members compete.

Winning a Gold Medal at the invite’s final session was one of Giameo’s greatest accomplishments in her sport.

A co-captain of her ENA Team, Giameo’s next event will be Saturday, Feb. 13 in Chicago, Ill. at the Navy Pier.

“It’s the largest meet in the world for gymnastics, it’s in the book of world records,” Giameo said. “They will have multiple meets going on.”

Giameo’s classification of USAG Level 10 Gymnast is the highest grade a gymnast can attain. She reached that level during her freshman year in high school.

After next weekend’s competition in Chicago, Giameo will travel toTampa, Fla. for a meet at Tropicana Field.

Of all the competitions – Floor Exercise, Balance Beam, Uneven Parallel Bars and Vault – Giameo said her favorite is the Floor Exercise.

“I like it the best because it gives you a chance to express yourself with music and go out there and have fun,” Giameo said. “I always have a smile on my face when I do my routine.”

It was at the Jan. 30 Parkettes Invitational where Giameo scored her best ever mark in the Floor Exercise, producing a fine 9.7 score.

Coached by husband and wife Craig and Jen Zappa at Paramus and also by John Wojtczuk, Giameo said her previous high score in the Floor Exercise was a 9.625.

Her best score ever in any of the competitions is a 9.8 on the Balance Beam a couple of years ago. Giameo said she was at Level 8 and accomplished the score at a meet in her home gym in Paramus.

Giameo drew a certain amount of inspiration from her older sister Jaclyn, who did gymnastics before her. Jaclyn is now a freshman at RiderUniversity and a member of the women’s tennis team at the Lawrenceville school.

Her younger brother Anthony – a 7^th grade student at Roselle ParkMiddle School – competes in basketball, baseball and track.