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Geneva keeps hitting new heights

Geneva recognized seniors Dominique Brognia and Claire Scatterday during Monday’s crucial Upstate Eight Conference meet against St. Charles co-op.

Its prized freshman, Claire Ginsberg, broke a school record.

All in all, it was an unforgettable night for the Vikings, who used an incredibly good effort on beam to cruise past St. Charles co-op, 146.2 to 142.5.

“I was really happy with another 146 and how we keep progressing,” Geneva coach Kim Hostman. “We’ve been strong on beam all year and it continued tonight.”

Ginsberg, who couldn’t recall her previous best on beam, recorded a school-best 9.7 to lead the Vikings to a 37.6 on the event. Brognia added a 9.45, Scatterday had a 9.25 and Grace Ginsberg had a 9.2.

The Vikings took an event which can give a gymnast worse nightmares than a horror movie and turned it into something Disney-like with a happy ending.

“I was actually surprised because I had more wobbles than I usually do,” Claire Ginsberg said. “The judge told me she was impressed.”

The new school mark, as well as Geneva’s effort on beam, were just some of the many highlights for the Vikings.

While Claire Ginsberg won the all-around title with a 37.85, Brognia wasn’t too far behind her with a 37.1, which included her floor exercise-winning 9.45 which concluded the meet.

In recent years, it was former greats Emily Ott and Ashley Puff who gave the Vikings something to cheer about at the end of home meets. On Monday, it was Brognia’s turn.

“I really love ending on floor,” Brognia said. “It’s a very fun event and by the end of the meet we were far more comfortable than we were at the beginning and I think that helped.”

Geneva, which was coming off a victory on Saturday in the Lincoln-Way Invitational, nearly broke the team scoring record of 146.275, established in last year’s Geneva regional.

The Vikings have now won three invitationals and remain unbeaten in the UEC.

Grace Ginsberg (35.4), Scatterday (34.05) and Megan Beitzel (33.85) rounded out the scoring for the winners.

On the losing side, the good news for St. Charles is that it should get two more cracks at the Vikings, beginning with the UEC meet on Jan. 30 and more than likely in the Wheaton Warrenville South sectional.

“I was pleased with all the girls, but it wasn’t the best that we can do,” St. Charles coach Amy Lill said. “For a while we were going up and up and now we’ve downshifted a little and need to turn the corner.”

Rachel Dugan paced St. Charles with a 36.25. She tied for first on vault with a 9.4 and won bars with a 9.55.

“Coming in, I was nervous on bars,” she said. “But overall we definitely improved from Saturday. A 142.5 is still a good score for us.”

Sidney Copeland finished with a 35.9 and was third on floor with a 9.25, Cathryn Gotlund was second on vault with a 9.3 and Rachel Favia tied for third on vault with a 9.1.

  St. Charles co-op’s Cathryn Gotlund competes against Geneva Monday in Geneva. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  St. Charles co-op’s Kelly Gorniak competes against Geneva in the floor exercise Monday in Geneva. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Geneva’s Claire Ginsberg competes against St. Charles co-op on the balance beam Monday in Geneva. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  St. Charles co-op’s Sidney Copeland competes against Geneva on the floor exercise Monday in Geneva. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  St. Charles co-op’s Kelly Gorniak competes against Geneva in the uneven parallel bars Monday in Geneva. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Geneva’s Claire Scatterday dismounts the uneven parallel bars Monday against St. Charles co-op in Geneva. Scatterday was one of two seniors honored Monday. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
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