Zehnder, Lake Park capture DVC title

What's more difficult, winning three straight DuPage Valley Conference meets or snagging the all-around title despite not winning an event?

Lake Park senior Kelly Zehnder didn't have an answer, but she's now accomplished both. The Lancers edged Wheaton co-op 144.95 to 144.45 in the final DVC meet on Friday night in Roselle.

"We've been working really hard so that we can get a higher score like that," she said. "That's a really big score for us, and the last couple weeks we've been able to build up our score in each event so it all averages out to be that high of a score."

Zehnder who finished in the top five in the all-around in each of her four seasons - including second a year ago, fifth in 2016 and third during her freshman year - slid past Wheaton co-op's Jamie LaBue, who won bars, floor and vault, for the all-around title 36.925 to 36.475.

"It was good competition and watching Wheaton on bars, they're phenomenal," Zehnder said. "After they started like that we just tried to stay in the mindset that we have to focus on us and what we need to get through our routines to reach our goal."

The Lancers trailed Wheaton co-op 73.1 to 71.775 after vault and bars, but an incredible effort on beam made the difference for Lake Park before they finished on floor.

"The last four girls on beam hit and that's almost a 37 on beam," Lancers coach Jake Luketin said. "That's all I can ask for on beam. You win and you lose on beam and although we were ending on floor I knew if we were going to catch up to Wheaton's bar score, our only chance was to have the best beam of our season."

Zehnder, Racquel Suhr, Julia Kurek and Julia Naronowicz all delivered on beam.

"I was happy to see the girls hit under pressure," Luketin said. "That's a great test before going on the road and seeing Wheaton again."

Neuqua Valley's Jane Riehs won beam and took third in the all-around. Riehs had been falling during her routine in recent meets, but she was close to perfect this time.

"Coming off of vault and bars I was a little rusty and knew I had to turn it around on beam," she said. "I mentally prepared myself before it and I was pretty happy I did because it definitely went well."

Wheaton co-op didn't appear too down in just falling short of the title. Perhaps that's because it will host Lake Park in a regional next Thursday and the two teams are the favorites.

"We're going to see Lake Park again so we're going to look forward to what we can improve on," Wheaton co-op coach Maureen Kermend said. "We had our high score of the year so I was really happy with that and very proud of the girls. They fought for everything and competed just like they've been practicing and they want to succeed."

Macy Smykal had a big night in the all-around for Wheaton and took second on floor. Jackie Kerth shined on bars, Jill Horvatin was huge on beam and Natalie Gillis contributed on floor.

"I think both teams were close in scores the whole time until the end," Smykal said. "I thought we fought really hard with all of our skills and put up a big score. I think if we all can hit in regional and sectional we can put up another high score and do really well."

Naperville North took third place 132.9 with Kelsey Sumser placing fourth in the all-around with a 35.125.

"Since the first week of January our practices and performances in the gym and our work ethic has been elevated to a different level and really paid off," Huskies coach Chris Stanicek said. "The girls have been consistent and in the 132-133-134 range and Kelsey Sumser, Chloe Tsao and Emma Ryan are really bringing this team together."

Neuqua Valley was fourth with a 132.575. Waubonsie Valley/Metea Valley co-op surpassed the 130 mark for the first time this year, taking fifth with a 131.875.

"It's awesome," Waubonsie Valley/Metea Valley co-op coach Phil Gilmer said. "We had a lot of good things happen so they really were on tonight. Now we'll just clean up a lot of those added new skills."

Naperville Central scored a 126.6 and Glenbard North, the last team to win a DVC meet prior to Lake Park, had a 121.925.