Girls gymnastics: Prospect finishes run to East title

Prospect's girls gymnastic team did not have the best start on Thursday night, but the Knights sure finished strong.

Freshman Olivia Tader (36.40) and sophomore Jill Schmit (34.4) went 2-3 in the all-around in pushing Prospect to a 132.78-132.40 over Hersey in a Mid-Suburban East triangular meet. Host Wheeling took third with 126.85 points.

Prospect started off shaky on the beam, but came on strong in the final three events to earn the MSL East Division title.

"It means a lot," said Schmit of the Knights title run. "Coming into the season we had no expectations, so it was a nice surprise to get the East title."

Tader, who missed the Prospect Invitational on Saturday due to an illness, came back strong in taking first on vault (9.25) and bars (9.25). The Knights freshman also added a second-place finish on beam (9.2) and a third-place finish on floor (8.7).

"We wanted to come in strong and try our best," said Tader, "I thought we held it together, especially at the end."

Schmit also did her part - especially on bars (8.9), where she took second and helped seal the victory.

"On bars, we weren't sure how it would go," said Schmit who also tied for third on vault (8.6). "But it ended it up really well. We kept our form and hit our routines."

Freshman Naiya Rooks also gave the Knights a lift by taking tying for third on vault (8.6).

"It was a rough start on beam," said Prospect coach Bridget Erickson. "I think we were a little nervous, but we started to put it together on floor and we kept building."

Hersey senior Mackenzie Kamysz set the tone for the Huskies taking first in the all-around (36.45).

The three-time state qualifier on beam flashed her versatility on Thursday. She started off by taking first on the floor (9.5), added a second-place finish on vault (9.15) and ended her night by taking first on beam (9.5).

"I'm feeling good," said Kamysz who has led an overall young Huskies effort this season. "We lost some talent from last year, so its kind of a new team this year. I have been making sure that my teammates confidence is up as well as keeping my own confidence up. I was just looking to keep it clean tonight."

Hersey was a bit short-handed after freshman Annika Szyniec was injured on her floor routine, the opening event for the Huskies. But sophomore Ashly Zurlo gave her team a lift with a third-place finish on bars (8.85).

Junior Jessica Stavros powered Wheeling's attack by taking second on floor (8.8) and third on the beam (8.55).

"She has been very consistent for us this year," said Wheeling coach Nicole Maila of Stavros' contributions. "Our team scores have definitely been higher this year and we just want to continue to build."