Conant claims MSL crown
Conant senior Mel Meyrick is no stranger to pressure.
The Cougars senior gymnast won the Mid-Suburban League all-around title last season and also tied for a fifth-place state medal on beam.
Meyrick came through under duress again on Wednesday, taking first on the vault (9.45) and first on floor exercise (9.5) in powering Conant to the MSL title with 142.60 points at Buffalo Grove.
Conant ended the meet strong on both the beam and floor to secure its third conference title, and the program's first since 2006.
Fremd, the five-time defending MSL champion, finished a close second with 141.65 points, followed by Hersey (140.65), Rolling Meadows (140.30), and Barrington (138.85).
"There are no words - it's just amazing," said Meyrick, who also took second on balance beam (9.5) and in the all-around (36.90). "It was definitely all about the team tonight. We came in with confidence and did what we needed to do."
Junior Bailey Bloom gave the Cougars a lift on bars (8.7) and beam (9.1), and sophomore Sydney Tong contributed a solid beam (9.2).
"I'm speechless," said Bloom of the Cougars' big effort. "It's been a long time, but we were able to put it together tonight."
Senior Bella Ostrowski added a solid vault (9.2) and floor (9.0), while freshman Kennedy O'Connor (9.15) and senior Mariana Vazquez-Rosas (9.1) added to the vault effort.
"We knew it was going to be close - Fremd was there the whole night," said Conant coach Anthony Avella, whose team also won the MSL West title. "But I just told the girls to hit their routines, and that's what they did."
Rolling Meadows senior Victoria Zervos also had a pretty big night. She captured the all-around title with a 37.25.
Zervos started her night by taking sixth on the floor (9.25), then tied for fourth on the vault (9.35), added a third-place finish on bars (9.3) and finished her night by taking fourth on the beam (9.35).
"Everything in the past has kind of motivated me," said Zervos, who had her seasons cut short the past two years due to injuries. "Tonight I just wanted to come in and show everything that I had. It brought out the best in me."
Junior Melanie Ng set the tone for Fremd by taking sixth in the all-around (36.10) and adding a third-place finish on beam (9.4).
"We've been working really hard in practice and it's really showing," Melanie Ng, "I was just happy to be able to help the team."
Courtney Ng added a fifth-place finish on bars (9.1), with junior Abby Moran contributing a fifth-place finish on floor (9.35).
Junior McKenzie Kamysz tied for third in the all-around 36.50 in leading Hersey. The Huskies' junior also tied for third on floor (9.4) and tied for fifth on beam (9.3). Senior Maggie Barton came through with a second-place finish on floor (9.45).
"I was just really focused on the beam and floor," said Kamysz of her big finish.
Freshman Nicole Kane took second on bars (9.40), combining with Zervos in pushing Rolling Meadows to a season-high score and a fourth-place finish.
Barrington senior Hayley Nilles (9.60) and freshman Ashley Diaz (9.25) took first and fourth place on bars in powering Barrington to fifth place.
"Completely unexpected," said Nilles of her bar performance. "I just wanted to do well for the team and it worked out."
Schaumburg senior Mikayla Vogt was in fine form, taking first on the beam (9.6), tying for third on floor (9.4) and tying for fourth on vault (9.35).
"I just felt very confident today," said Vogt. "The experience is definitely helping me."
Palatine senior Kara Ure tied for second on vault (9.4) and took fifth in the all-around (36.20) in helping the Pirates to a sixth-place finish.
Senior Teresa Riles gave host Buffalo Grove a big boost by tying for third in the all-around (36.50), tying for second on vault (9.4) and tying for fifth on beam (9.3).