Naperville North's Robert places eighth in all-around
Coaches will often talk about their kids striving to get better and better.
Naperville North standout Michaela Robert is one gymnast who has improved each of her four years in high school, and she netted her first top 10 finish in the all-around during Friday's state gymnastics championships at Palatine, tying for eighth place with a 37.05.
"I've tried to improve every year and that's been one of my huge goals," she said. "I've really been happy that I've been able to see that progress. Last year I had a good meet, but this is probably my best one."
The balance beam has been her Achilles' heel. She fell off of it, which reduced her score to an 8.625, but she responded by finishing with a 9.575 on floor, the second-highest score on floor in the entire meet.
"I was definitely bummed about how beam went, but I couldn't have asked for a better floor routine," she said. "I'm really happy to perform like I did and hopefully I can do it the same way (on Saturday)."
Robert also qualified for the individual championships on bars with a 9.375.
"My two favorite events and my two strongest events," she said. "It's awesome to be able to do these events one more time. I'm really looking forward to it."
Robert wasn't the only gymnast from the DuPage County area who shined their way to Saturday.
Glenbard North had the biggest success overall as Allison Wahrman (bars), Katie Murphy (floor) and Erin Bregman (bars) will move on to the event finals.
"This was kind of the goal, so I'm very happy," Panthers coach Kristin Nordquist said. "We got them all in. Katie got in with the skin of her teeth, but magically they all got in."
It's difficult enough to get to state so getting to Saturday is even more impressive.
"You've got people here who are already going to do college gymnastics and you're competing against some people who are training higher than you are," Nordquist said. "There are a lot of really good girls here so to be in the Top 10 in the state is a huge accomplishment."
Wheaton Warrenville co-op's Lenna Klein tallied a 9.275 on beam to advance. She just missed doing so on vault with a 9.5 and finished with a 36.475 in the all-around.
"My warmups weren't the greatest," she said. "I thought I'd do it for my team. They always help me perform the best that I can. I'm really glad I stuck it so I can represent my team again."
Addison Trail's Kennedy O'Neill just snuck in on beam tying for 10th with a 9.075. She was the sixth and final DuPage County gymnast to advance.
A handful of other area gymnasts also competed at state.
Glenbard West's Amber Broucek had a 36 in the all-around and Sarah DeStefano had a 9.125 on bars. Willowbrook's Tamara Mendez had a 33.425 in the all-around and Jill Schuberth scored a 35.725.
Wheaton Warrenville co-op's Petrina Chino had a 9.125 on bars, Julie Galo scored an 8.825 on floor and Katie McDonald added an 8.275 on floor.
Waubonsie Valley/Metea Valley co-op's Claire Samojedny had an 8.875 on bars and Lake Park's Kelly Zehnder finished with an 8.675 on floor.