MSL East meets Wes
Thursday night’s 21st annual Mid-Suburban League East vs. West Andy Kostick Camaraderie Meet gave boys gymnasts a chance to get know each other in a friendly atmosphere at Barrington High School.
In the case of Palatine sophomore Jonah Hinz, it was a perfect way for him to introduce himself to league competition after performing only in club action as a freshman.
Hinz made quite a first impression by winning the “most circles on the pommel horse” fun event with 53 and then taking third place on the high bar with an 8.1.
Each MSL school was allowed one competitor in the six regular events.
“I think this (high school gymnastics) is a fun, light-hearted atmosphere,” said Hinz, who is recovering from a back injury he suffered on high bar last December. “It’s a lot of teamwork.”
The East team won the event for the first time in 11 years, outscoring the West 248.2 to 226.5.
“That’s awesome,” said Elk Grove coach Keith Mukai. “Everyone looked pretty strong. Last year, it was much closer. The East lost by like a point.”
Top point getter for Mukai’s Grenadiers went to senior Damian Zukowski, who scored a 9.0 on the high bar to top runner-up Steven Rink of Conant (8.3). Zukowski posted an 8.85 in the event to win the MSL title a year ago.
“I gave everything I could,” he said. “I tried to stay tight and get out all my requirements.”
The East won the first five events before the West took top average on the high bar (38.3 to 35.4).
The East won the floor exercise 49.0 to 43.2, led by Buffalo Grove teammates Kyle Chamberlain (8.8) and Julian Vasquez (8.6).
Rolling Meadows’ Marc Herff posted the top score on the pommel horse (8.3).
Hersey’s Evan Reynolds (8.9) was tops on the still rings followed by Buffalo Grove’s Kyle Siebert (8.8)
First place in the vault went to Buffalo Grove’s Eric Balko (9.2) while Johnny Corbett of Hersey was second with an 8.7.
Palatine senior Damian Przystal recorded an 8.3 to win the parallel bars. Eugene Blackmon of Buffalo Grove and Nick Alcazar of Elk Grove were close behind with scores of 8.2.
“It’s nice to win but I want keep getting better,” said Przystal, whose 8.5 in the MSL meet last year gave him an 11th-place finish. “If my elbow gets better, I want to try to add (another trick) to it.”
Schaumburg junior all-arounder Chris Stehlin got the night rolling when he won the longest handstand.
“He is a strong little guy,” said Saxons coach Howard Rubin, who is retiring at the end of the season after 29 seasons directing the program. “It’s a fun event and he said he wanted to do it.”
Siebert repeated his title in the longest “L” on the parallel bars while Conant’s Vinnie Gottardo won the standing back flip contest with 29 in a row.