Above-average Addison Trail wins championship
The unique scoring system of the third annual Steve Kafka Invitational puts all the boys gymnastics teams on the same level playing field.
Teams were given competition points based on the difference between their season scoring average and the team with the highest scoring average: Glenbard West's 137.95.
Competition points were added to each team's total on Saturday and the adjusted team total was then used to determine the winner.
Addison Trail, averaging 126 points, netted a 132.1 and bumped its score to a 144.05 via competition points to earn the championship.
"It just kind of shows just how much work we've put in and where they're at now compared to where they started from," Blazers coach Mike Galfi said. "We've kind of had a broken-up roster for most of the year, so it's kind of nice and helps us line up for conference and for sectionals."
Addison Trail was especially strong on vault where Daniel Baeza, Alex Kominowski and Alfredo Torres tied for third with a trio of 9s.
"We've had some injuries, but we know that we just have to practice hard in the gym and be ready to compete," Kominowski said. "We always have to try to beat our own scores."
Kominowski was also third on floor with a 9, Alfredo Torres tied for fifth on floor with an 8.8, Marcus Rias tied for third on parallel bars with an 8.0 and R.J. Infusino tied Hersey's Eric Williams for top honors on still rings with an 8.2.
"This was really a big win for us," Baeza said. "A lot of guys contributed and hopefully we can do the same thing during sectionals."
Glenbard West was second, scoring a true 140.1.
The Hilltoppers earned three individual event titles, although they weren't awarded. Team awards were given in individual events and they won floor, parallel bars and high bar as a squad.
Eric Samuta tied West Chicago's Jacob Kurian for first on floor with a 9.2. Paul Bonokollie won pommel horse outright with a 9.0, and Matthew Ideler tied Leyden's Alexis Vilchez for first place on parallel bars with an 8.4.
"The reason we set up this meet, and the way the scoring is set up, is that the team that comes out and hits is the team that wins," Hilltoppers coach Frank Novakowski said. "We had a good meet, but our goal was to go 18-for-18 and we didn't hit. We sat three of our vaults."
Samuta was also second on high bar with a 7.2, and Ideler was right behind him with a 7.0.
"Floor was really good because I hit all my passes, but I still need to work more on my landings overall," Samuta said. "High bar was a little sloppy. I need to work on sticking my double."
The remaining six teams all scored lower than their season average.
Based on adjusted team totals, Glenbard East took third with a 135.3, Glenbard South was fifth with a 134.35, Hersey was sixth with a 133.9, Buffalo Grove seventh with a 131.9 and Glenbard North was ninth with a 130.0.
Hersey brothers Matt Phelps and Jon Phelps finished 1-2 on vault with Matt scoring a season-high 9.6. Jon added a 9.1.
"That's probably Top 5 in the state," Matt Phelps said. "I've had some high 9s, maybe 9.2 and 9.3, but today was different. I knew I stuck it and when you stick it they give you a bonus."
Downers Grove South's Evan Baird won high bar with an 8.3, Glenbard East's Matt Le was fourth on still rings with a 7.9 and Glenbard North's Asim Zaidi was fifth on pommel horse with a 7.6.