Glenbard West executes plan

The game plan is pretty much the same every year at Glenbard West.

It was well-executed and resulted in an impressive girls gymnastics victory in Saturday's Naperville North Invite.

The Hilltoppers edged Barrington, 142.65 to 141.775, while the two squads proved superior to the remaining 10 teams, including Palatine, which was a distant third with a 136.675.

"Every year we have a plan to be ready, and once you turn the page for a new year that's when you want to start throwing your best gymnastics," Hilltoppers coach Carlos Fuentes said. "It's a long season and we've learned how to get the kids to peak at the right time, so this is a great way to start the season, and a win is a win against great competition."

Freshman Maddie Diab experienced the invite for the first time and she delivered like a seasoned vet. She won vault with a 9.775, was second on bars and beam, and she also placed second in the all-around with a 37.275.

"My vault was good. I took a little step but thought it was good," she said. "Overall it was a good day. Not my best, but still pretty good."

The Hilltoppers were balanced, receiving scoring contributions from Amanda Rosch, Amber Broucek, Sarah DeStefano, Alison Oakes, Katherine Hoban and Cailey Cranny.

Rosch placed third on bars with a 9.1 while Oakes had three finishes among the top five, taking third on floor with a 9.025 and tying for fifth on beam with an 8.95 as well as vault with a 9.15.

"Our veteran leaders - Sarah, Amber and Amanda - have been in so many big meets now that they know what to do and they calm the freshmen down," Fuentes said. "Someone like Maddie, for instance, has a ton of talent, but those older girls teach them how to compete."

Barrington senior Abby Hasanov won the all-around title with a 38.025. It was the third straight year that she won the all-around at this invite. She had a 9.4 on bars, 9.45 on beam, 9.475 on floor, but her highest score was a 9.7 on vault where she placed second.

"I felt very confident," she said. "I didn't have a good meet earlier this week. I fell on beam twice so I looked at this as a new meet and wanted to show what I've got and try to help my team."

The defending state champ on floor was most pleased with her routine on Saturday, which strangely was the first time she won it at the Naperville North invite since her freshman year.

"I changed my dancing stuff and feel more confident and have more fun doing it this year," she said. "I feel that floor defines me and my gymnastics."

Naperville Central senior Jill Schuerth placed third in the all-around with a 35.375 to help the Redhawks take eighth place with a 130.8.

"Vault was big for me," she said. "I competed a tsuk for the first time, so I was really happy with that. I'm must trying to step it up in practice and work in more harder skills so I can compete them before the end of the year."

Veronika Srey scored a 33.05 to help Glenbard East place ninth with a 126.9.

The host Huskies were 11th with a 118.95.

"We're having a tendency to start strong and then struggling with finishing," Huskies coach Chris Stanicek said. "We were good on vault and bars, but at beam and floor we had some falls, so there's still a lot of work to be done."

Neuqua Valley only a few competitors and scored a 72.35.