Conant answers the state challenge

Conant's girls gymnastics team sure has done a nice job of answering the challenges this season.

The Cougars won their first Mid-Suburban League title in 11 years. Conant came back a week later to secure its first regional title since 2008, and the team capped a big end-of-season run by taking second at the Fremd sectional with a 144.1.

After a two-day wait to see how teams in the other sectionals scored, Conant was awarded its first state qualification since 2007 by tying Lake Park for the final at-large bid.

The Cougars were certainly up for the challenge.

"It is very rewarding," said Conant coach Anthony Avella of his team's accomplishment, which also included an MSL West Division title. "Since the beginning of the season our goal has been to qualify for the state meet and there have been some challenges, but the girls have worked really hard for this."

Conant bowed out of the state series last season after finishing second at it own regional. But the Cougars offered a different look this season, with a winning combination of experience and youth.

Senior Mel Meyrick certainly set the tone. She participated in club gymnastics her first two years of high school but immediately made a difference after joining the Cougars her junior year. She went on to win the MSL all-around title last season and also tied for a fifth-place medal on beam at the state meet.

Junior Bailey Bloom was a returning state qualifier on beam, and senior Isabella Ostrowski and senior Mariana Vazquez-Rosa helped fill the gaps.

Conant also received jolt from a trio of newcomers, with sophomore Sydney Tong, freshman Julia Betts, and freshman Kennedy O'Connor adding to the effort.

"We had the mentality from the beginning of the season that we wanted to make it to the state," said Meyrick. "Every practice we came in with the mentality that we were going to make it to state.

"We are like a family. The support was very important to help us peak at the right time, and it gave us confidence."

Conant was consistent from the start of the season, scoring above 140 in three of its first five meets. But the Cougars still had some obstacles.

O'Connor dislocated her elbow right before the start of the season and did not return until mid-January, and Bloom suffered a nasty fall on beam on the night O'Connor returned but came back strong at the MSL meet.

"It was scary, but I knew I could jump back in," said Bloom. "Just the excitement of trying to get to state and do our best, it helped me move forward."

Conant faced another challenge at the MSL meet, when it trailed Fremd by .25 points entering the final event. The Cougars found a bit of comfort knowing they would be on the floor - but they still had to deliver.

They did just that with Betts (8.75), O'Connor (8.85), and Ostrowski (9.0) coming up big and setting the stage for Meyrick (9.5), who capped the title drive by taking first.

"We were kind of just living in the moment," said O'Connor, whose return from her early injury help to solidify the team. "As the season progressed we thought, 'Yeah we can do this.' "

"For us younger ones we just wanted to make the seniors' final year special … they were great role models."

"Winning conference was really emotional," said Vazquez-Rosa. "It gave us a lot of confidence moving forward."

But the Cougars still had a big hurdle to clear if they wanted to reach their stated goal of qualifying for state.

After scoring a season-high mark at regionals (144.15), the Cougars entered the Fremd sectional with confidence they'd do the job.

"The key was to work hard and give our best effort," said Tong. "We all supported each other and we were all in this together."

"Whenever you're doing a routine you just think about your teammates," said Betts. "You just do the best for your team and they support you, no matter what the result."

Conant girls gymnastic team had a very successful run from 2003 through 2007 season, qualifying for state five consecutive times while earning four trophies - including a state title in 2006.

But the Cougars had not made a return trip to state in 10 years, and that streak look like it might be extended after a flat triangular meet performance at Hersey in mid-January, in which they finished second.

In their final rotation the Cougars recorded three falls on beam, including the one by Bloom that sideline the junior for two meets.

While other teams' scores were starting to rise, the Cougars dropped to a 141.70. Impressive still, yet not quite good enough for a team eyeing state.

And the Cougars exited the meet looking a bit shaken, especially not knowing the extent of Bloom's injury.

But it proved to be an anomaly. With Bloom returning, Kennedy getting stronger and Meyrick being her usual leading self, the Cougars began a streak that took them to the doorsteps of the state meet Friday and Saturday at Palatine High School.

"There was no guarantee," said Meyrick. "But every time someone did come back from injury or fought for something when they easily could have given up … for it to actually pay off, it's really an exciting time."