Downers Grove North defeats Glenbard South

TayTay Hall had a laugh-out-loud moment when he remembered what he looked like as a freshman gymnast.

That was the first time that he could call himself such an athlete, because he was entirely new to the sport.

"If I saw myself back then I would laugh at myself," the Glenbard South senior said. "I'm glad I've stuck with it for these four years. I've learned a lot and I'm having a lot of fun with it. I used to tumble a bit before high school, but this is different. The improvements I've made, wow, I'm a lot different now then when I first walked in here."

The Raiders fell short of visiting Downers Grove North, 128.6 to 116.5, during Thursday's dual meet in Glen Ellyn, but they were still satisfied with their performance.

"I finally landed my double back which I usually am over-rotating on, so that was good," Hall said. "I messed up my front step on floor, but I pushed through it, so that was OK. Overall, we're all feeling pretty good with where we're at and just trying to get some things cleaned up and get better."

Hall finished in third place on floor and still rings while fellow senior Stephen Bean won vault and was the runner-up on floor and high bar.

"My floor went well other than a little bobble," Bean said. "Overall, I'd say it wasn't our best meet. We've had a tough week with low energy and everyone being tired so we tried to push through it."

Bean's tsuk on vault was arguably his best of the season, so that was certainly a highlight for the Raiders.

"I brushed my hands a bit, but nothing big," he said. "It was my best vault of the season."

Downers Grove North was short-handed but still had enough talent to pull out the victory.

"We were missing a couple key players with a band concert tonight," Trojans coach Tony Ciezadlo said. "The guys have been working hard in the gym and they're working on putting in some new skills. They're where they need to be at this point in the season."

Showing off their depth, the Trojans had eight gymnasts finish in the top three in at least one event apiece, including Michael Kudelka, who won five events.

Kudelka also finished with a 46.8 to win the all-around.

"I fell on rings, which I usually don't do, but overall I think we did pretty good," he said. "Coming in we were worried we weren't going to win, but we pulled it out even without some of the guys, which was awesome."

Taking on an added leadership role this spring, Kudelka is motivating his teammates to take chances and to not worry about mistakes. Errors are going to happen and he believes it's much better to succumb to those boo-boos in March rather than in late April and early May.

"I tell the guys they have nothing to lose and now is the time to take chances," he said. "Riley (Gagliano) was shaking his head after high bar because he fell, but his landing was still good which is awesome and he's going to keep get better. We're all going to get better especially when we head into practice during spring break."