Hersey completes 5-0 MSL East feat
Hersey's girls gymnastics squad has found its groove on floor exercise to start off the new year.
The Huskies used a strong start on the floor (36.20) to set the tone in capturing the Mid-Suburban East title with 138.35 points at the Rolling Meadows triangular on Monday. Prospect took second with 131.60, followed by host Rolling Meadows (129.30).
Senior Alysa Zurlo (9.35) anchored the floor attack by taking first, with junior Victoria Schmidt (9.05) and sophomore McKenzie Kamysz (9.0) adding fourth and fifth place in giving the Huskies a big lift in their first rotation.
"We've just been feeling really comfortable on the floor and we're having fun," said Zurlo, who completed a strong night by taking first in the all-around (35.45), tying for second on vault (8.85) and adding a fourth place finish on beam (8.95).
"The division title is something we've been working for. We've just been working on our goals - now obviously our next goal is to make it bigger."
Hersey also showed a bit of life on the beam. The Huskies had a bit of down night last Thursday on beam, but bounced back big on Monday, with junior Maggie Barton (9.25) and Kamysz (9.0) going 1-2 to seal the victory.
"We've been working to fight through it and we stuck it tonight," said Kamysz, who has helped to steady the Huskies attack and finished second on the bars (8.6) and in the all-around (35.15).
Hersey was competing in its third meet in five days, but showed a bit of grit in grinding to a perfect 5-0 East record on Monday.
"They are exhausted," said Hersey coach Shannon Barrett of the Huskies' recent grind. "But winning the division was big and we're still not showing everything. Now we have a chance to clean things up."
Prospect was also running on fumes as it competed in the fourth meet in six days.
Senior Meghan Donner anchored the Knights' attack on Monday. The senior tied for second on the vault (8.85) and added a third-place finish on the floor (9.2).
Sophomore Rose Barros also has stepped up big for the Knights this season, and on Monday she tied for second on the beam (9.0) and also tied with senior teammate Olivia Sullo for third on the bars (8.45).
"With so many meets it will be nice to get back to the gym," said Donner. "It's beyond physically exhausting, and even more so mentally exhausting."
Rolling Meadows hit a season high (136.95) last Thursday and the Mustangs were looking to keep riding that momentum on senior night.
But Meadows suffered a big blow when senior star Kelly Johnston, who started the night by taking first on vault (9.2), suffered a fall on bars and missed the final two events.
Junior Victoria Zervos did her best to keep the Mustangs on track by taking first on the bars (8.9) and adding a second-place finish on floor (9.3).
"I was just looking to pick it up for the rest of the team," said Zervos, who also finished third in the all-around (35.10). "If one person goes down, the next person has to step up and help. You have to give it your all."