Which DuPage County teams might go to Palatine?

Welcome back, Palatine.

That's the dream destination for area teams that haven't advanced to the state finals in quite some time.

There are a few DuPage County schools in particular that appear to have the talent and skills to do it but also recognize that those eight slots to advance are at a premium.

Lake Park appears to be the best bet. The Lancers have scored a 145 or better three times this season, including a 147.05 to win the York Invite on Jan. 23.

The Lancers haven't visited Palatine as a team since 2003.

Wheaton Warrenville co-op scored its best total of 142.4 during senior night on Jan. 21. The team narrowly missed going to state last year and lost a lot of key contributors to graduation this season, but the combination of a few key returnees as well as a large, talented freshmen class has it once again in the running to do something it hasn't done since 2000.

Seniors Julie Galo and Petrina Chino are looking to have their biggest meets in the state series to lead the young co-op squad.

Downers Grove South has hit a 140-plus in seven of its last eight competitions while surging past the 144 plateau twice.

The Mustangs have not qualified for state since 1993, which is well before any of its current gymnasts were born. They won conference Saturday with a 144.325 as sisters Kayla Carlson and Abby Carlson tied for first place in the all-around.

"I'm very ecstatic," Mustangs coach Kristyn Moavero said. "They're tired and they're sore but they're healthy and injury-free right now and in good spirits. I told them it's just practice all season and that they're peaking at the right time."

Moavero keeps reminding her gymnasts that they're not going to have perfect meets but to focus on making the least amount of mistakes.

"I've told them to keep it together because I've never heard of the perfect gymnastics meet," she said. "At conference they started poorly on bars but still finished with a great score, so I've reminded them to stick with it."

Local teams aren't the only ones looking to get back to state for the first time in awhile.

Hersey hasn't been there since 1990 but is having one of its finest seasons in more than 25 years, while Sandburg/Stagg co-op and Lincoln-Way co-op have both been scoring consistently in the low 140s and each will host regionals. Neither has been to state in seven and eight years, respectively. Both will be contesting DuPage schools for those premium qualifying spots.

<h3 class="leadin">On top of the Hill(toppers):</h3>

Glenbard West has had many great gymnasts as well as great teams during the program's history, but none performed better than the Hilltoppers did last Wednesday when they established a school-record total of 148.45 points.

"Not that I never thought it could be broken, but the average to break it was unbelievable so the bar there was so high," Hilltoppers coach Carlos Fuentes said. "They hit all 20 routines and that's the type of performance it took to do it, and it was senior night, which helped them, but they're also getting more and more confident so it wasn't surprising either."

The Hilltoppers have really hit their full stride and appear poised to make their fourth state appearance in the past seven years.

Could this be their best team ever?

"This group is comparable to the 2008 and 2009 teams that won back-to-back sectionals," Fuentes said. "I think they match those teams in terms of depth. Their focus and the work they put in everyday in practice, I would say some of these kids are overexceeding."

Amanda Rosch was JV1 as a freshman while fellow seniors Sarah DeStefano and Amber Broucek didn't enter high school with the same pedigree and maturity as freshman Maddie Diab, but they've grown substantially as competitors.

As for Diab, her recent performances have been consistently breathtaking.

She set a school record in the all-around with a 38.4 at the York Invite, followed it with a 38.45 last Wednesday and then scored another 38.4 during Saturday's conference meet.

"Three times in a row," Fuentes said. "The work and time that's she's put in to make herself that consistent says a lot about her. She didn't walk in performing that way. She's improved her consistency and is doing it at the right time."

<h3 class="leadin">Surprise in Carol Stream:</h3>

The loss of talented seniors and a club gymnast hasn't caused Glenbard North to struggle through a rebuilding year. Rather, the team has been one of the bigger surprises this winter.

The Panthers have almost scored 15 points higher than the 123 they opened with on Dec. 3, scoring a season-best 137.45 just six weeks later.

"We've gone a lot higher than I anticipated, which is great," Panthers coach Kristin Nordquist said. "Allison (Wahrman's) been super healthy and done really well, and the sophomore transfer from Woodstock, Delaney Guy, is doing well but has some consistency issues and then we've had some other kids step up."

Amanda Arendt and Erika Meister have been JV gymnasts the past few years but have made the leap to varsity while freshman Katie Blakeley has jumped on the scene as well.

"I honestly don't think we've put together our best meet yet," Nordquist said. "Every single meet there seems to be an event where we have a lot of mess-ups. If we can fully hit we should be at 138 or 139 which is way higher than I expected before the season."

<h3 class="leadin">New leader:</h3>

Bella Mandarino isn't a high-scoring gymnast who is going to take Naperville North deep into the postseason.

The junior competed in three events during Friday's DuPage Valley Conference meet and her highest score was a 7.8 on floor to help her place 25th.

She's a leader, though, and one the team desperately needed this season after Michaela Robert and Allie Pecorin graduated.

"There is a passing of the torch and Bella knows she has the chance to leave a lasting mark," Huskies coach Chris Stanicek said. "And I don't necessarily mean in talent, but in leadership and example."

<h3 class="leadin">A year away:</h3>

Glenbard East has been a low 130s team this season but has been relying heavily on junior Veronika Srey, sophomore Krasimira Ganeva and freshmen Sierra Olson and Sydney Nasternak. All four gymnasts were all-arounders at the Independents Conference meet on Saturday at Oswego and scored between 31.6 and 34.3.

The good news for the Rams is that all four will be eligible to return next season, along with sophomore Breanna Page among others. For now, they'll focus on earning their best team score and trying to advance to sectionals.

<h3 class="leadin">Sisters who share:</h3>

Sisters are known to share clothes, memories, laughter and secrets.

Downers Grove South junior Kayla Carlson and sophomore Abby Carlson shared first place in the all-around during Saturday's West Suburban Gold meet in Addison.

None of their scores matched in any of the four events. While Abby enjoyed a 9.35 on bars, Kayla had an 8.55 on bars. On beam Kayla scored a 9.375 while Abby had an 8.825.

"We thought Abby had won because they had flashed one of her scores wrong," Mustangs coach Kristyn Moavero said. "We couldn't believe it and didn't know until the final moment so that was really awesome, a pretty cool moment."

Coincidentally, the Carlsons aren't the only sisters on the team. Sophomore Lindsay Tom and senior Emily Tom have also been key to the team's success

The Mustangs are hosting a regional on Tuesday and Moavero believes it's the first time they have done so in at least 20 years.