An all-around success for regional champ Mundelein
Taking it one step at a time is the plan for the Mundelein girls gymnastics team in the state series.
The Mustangs made the first step a big one, jumping into the postseason by winning their own regional with a score of 142.5 on Thursday night in Mundelein. Deerfield finished second with a 134.9, followed by Niles North (131.75) and Vernon Hills (115).
Mundelein automatically moves on to the sectional it will host at 6 p.m. Tuesday. They will be joined by regional champs Carmel Catholic (145.575), New Trier (141.725) and Warren (135.35); Glenbrook South (140.15) and Glenbrook North (134.925) advanced with at-large bids.
Mundelein had three gymnasts lead the way in the all-around competition: Meagan Kehr (37.825), Taylor Shanahan (36.425) and Taylor Kozaritz (34.65).
The Mustangs actually started preparing for their meet with a Wednesday night pasta party, to help take the edge off of Thursday's high-stakes competition.
"I thought the girls might have been nervous for each other," Mundelein coach Jamie Brongiel said. "They wanted to see each other do well. They do hang out regularly outside the gym. Going into it, there was no reason to be nervous. I thought they would all do well, but some of them were nervous coming in."
The Mustangs managed to work through their jitters just fine.
"Overall, I thought we had a good night," Brongiel said. "Floor was excellent, vault was awesome, bars we have some things to work on, and beam was awesome. Not our highest score, but I thought they did well."
Kehr picked up top honors in all four events, winning balance beam (9.6), floor exercise (9.45), uneven parallel bars (9.4) and vault (9.375).
"I thought it was a better meet," Kehr said. "I stuck beam, and on floor I did a new tumbling pass, the front handspring front layout, punch front. Only thing was on bars, I dragged my feet. I also had an awesome vault."
Shanahan was strong throughout, taking second on bars (9.3), second on beam (9.1), second on floor (8.95) and tying for second on vault with Deerfield's Brooke Buranosky (9.075).
"I'm proud of myself but more proud of the team, and how we came together," Shanahan said. "The rest of the series is for the team and everyone goes in and does their best individually.
"The nerves get the best of us sometimes. I think we work it out between each other, with encouragement before each event helping out. It's nice to have all of this at home, but it's nerve-wracking."
Kozaritz tied for third on bars with Deerfield's Samantha Sansweet (8.625) along with placing fourth on vault (8.95) and third on floor (8.85).
"I finally landed a vault, and the bars were good for me," said Kozaritz, who hit a Yurchenko tuck.
Mundelein's Marissa Rizzo will be looking for qualifying to sectional with an at-large spot after strong scores on vault (8.75), beam (8.725) and floor (8.325). Maggie Franz could also make it on vault (8.65).
Vernon Hills also has a couple of at-large hopefuls - Lexie Cobb on beam (8.55) and floor (8.375) and Abby Heinz (8.3).