Warren harbors at-large sectional hopes
Last year, Warren's girls gymnastic team made it all the way into the sectional at season's end.
It's been a much different narrative for the Blue Devils this season, as nagging injuries left them out of the team picture in advancing past the regional level as a group.
Yet individually, Warren may still have the chance to see several of its gymnasts take the next step with at-large berths to Monday's Stevenson sectional.
Warren posted a team score of 130.05, good for third place behind host New Trier (147.175) and Niles West (136.85) in regional action Tuesday night in Winnetka.
"I thought our scores were much better and I thought the girls executed better," Warren assistant coach Jillian Kroot said. "We had a lot of illnesses and injuries last week. Coming in, I thought we were in much better shape physically. Some (gymnasts) are coming off of injuries and some have had some injuries in the off-season.
"We have had a lot of improvement throughout the year. It's good that we've got some shots for our gymnasts to get in at-large."
The Blue Devils didn't get into the top five spots which earn automatic sectional spots. But several have chances to qualify with one of the top 12 at-large spots in each event or the all-around. The at-large spots will be decided after Wednesday's Mundelein regional and Thursday's Carmel Catholic regional are completed.
Warren's Danielle Strauss was eighth in the all-around (33.075), ninth on vault (8.675), eighth on bars (8.1) and produced a season-best 8.525 on floor, good for 12th.
"It's pretty nerve-wracking, but I've done it all season and practiced with it," Strauss said. "You see (New Trier) and see the skills they do, you just want to perform at your best."
Strauss' teammate Carly Baun was dealing with a right ankle issue but has a chance to get through to the sectional on the beam after taking eighth place (8.15).
"I'm just trying to stay positive and doing this for my team," Baun said.
Warren's Sharon Dhali was ninth on the vault (8.05) and also awaits a potential at-large opportunity.
New Trier's Maeve Murdock won the all-around (37.675) and beam (9.425). The Trevians' Avery Faulkner had the top vault (9.35) and floor (9.475), while Emily Jane Rohrer chalked up the top bar routine (9.55) for New Trier.
New Trier and Glenbrook South (146.4) won their regionals; Niles West and Glenbrook North (136.325) hold the top two at-large team scores which feed into the Stevenson sectional.