Boys gymnastics: Wheaton seniors enjoy final Donaldson Invite

Seniors Joey DiRienzo and Aiden Moran soaked in their final David Donaldson Invite on Saturday while freshman teammate Nicky Franz made a huge splash.

Franz won the all-around with a 54.5, DiRienzo was third with a 51.8 and Moran was fourth with a 50.425 to lift Wheaton Warrenville co-op to the title with 157.5 points.

Lyons Township was the runner-up with a 153.975, and Glenbard West was third with a 151.7.

"Just being my final one, I wanted to make it special for me," DiRienzo said. "The last couple of meets I haven't gone 6-for-6, so I've been working really hard to be able to hit 6-for-6, so I was really proud of myself to do that. I'm happy, but I'm going to miss this. I really am."

DiRienzo missed the Donaldson two years ago due to a broken ankle. He wasn't contributing as an all-around at that time anyway, so to be able to work all six events Saturday was unforgettable.

"I just remember coming in my freshman year and seeing how the gym was set up and wanted to be out there," he said. "It's really cool to come here and be in this big gym and this setting is so official with the two judges and starting values. It felt really good to be out there competing and having fun."

DiRienzo won pommel horse. Franz won parallel bars and vault.

"I was really excited to do this and I had a lot of fun too," Franz said. "I just go out there and try my best."

They've already proved they belong among the top teams in the state. They are just one of four schools to eclipse a 157 team score this spring.

"We still have work to do," DiRienzo said. "We're never done getting at it in the gym. We're working hard still, but we're content with where we're at so far."

Alexander Demeris took second in the all-around with a 53.9 to lead the Hilltoppers.

"Today was my second highest all-around score after getting my highest (on Friday)," he said. "So I hit all my routines again. I want to improve still on pommel horse, but I'm feeling good. I'm getting more confident each meet."

Demeris said a slow start on vault proved to be too difficult for the Hilltoppers to overcome.

"We didn't have as many hits on vault as we needed and that kept going on throughout the meet," he said. "Taking third isn't common for us, but now we know we've got to beat these other teams, so we need to go back to putting in more hard work at the gym."

Lake Park took sixth place with a 135.65, receiving all-around scores from Louie Ranieri, Matt Scmieca and Owen Bigler.

"I think it went pretty well for all of us," Ranieri said. "We did what we needed to do. There were a couple of falls, but overall I think we did a good job as a team. We're still aiming for that 140 but a few mistakes are keeping us under."

Lancers senior Bosco Boyer is from Mexico and a first-time gymnast this season. He quietly took eighth on still rings with an 8.3 from among the 45-member field.

"I'm working hard and little by little we're getting better," he said. "It's very good. I feel good being a part of this team."

Hinsdale Central's Alex Roca won floor to lead the Red Devils to seventh place with a 134.225.

Naperville Central (109.5), Hinsdale South (108.6) and Glenbard North (101.4) were other area teams in action.