Boys gymnastics: Kowalski completes return with MSL all-around triumph

Rolling Meadows' Ben Kowalski is used to coming back.

The Mustangs gymnast decided to give up the sport after the sixth grade, having tired of the club scene.

After changing his mind and returning to the sport for his freshman year of high school, Kowalski began to slowly work his way back. He then suffered a pair of setbacks this year, breaking his ankle last fall and then injuring his back when the season officially began.

But his perseverance paid huge dividends Thursday night at the Mid Suburban League meet, when he won the all-around title with a 53.15. Kowalski became the first Rolling Meadows boys gymnast to win the conference all-around title since Mike Godawa in 1974.

When Rolling Meadows come coach Mike Costa told Kowalski that he'd won the all-around title, the junior jumped around like a kid about to get ice cream.

"I am very satisfied," Kowalski said. "I wasn't a very strong all-arounder coming into this. I had no intentions that I was going to win at all. I am surprised."

Costa said that watching Kowalski's reaction to the news that Kowalski had won the all-around was memorable.

"Kids like that are passionate and want to be great and do the time - this is why I coach," said Costa, who has been at the helm at Rolling Meadows for 13 years. "The look on his face when he was told that he won the all-around is why I do what I do."

Kowalski won the all-around title Thursday without winning a single event, a rarity in the sport. Kowalski was second on the floor exercise, pommel horse and high bar. He was third on the rings, fifth on the parallel bars and seventh on the vault.

He said he returned to gymnastics because of the encouragement from Costa and his mother.

"I was planning on doing baseball instead," Kowalski said. "I ended up doing it and fell in love with it again."

Schaumburg freshman Oscar Kulesza was second in the all-around with a 52.90. He also won the high bar with a 9.40.

"It was a pretty good meet for me," Kulesza said. "I am not disappointed at all. I could have done better and I am looking forward to sectionals."

Hersey sophomore Garrett Naughton was third in the all-around with a 52.55. Naughton also won the pommel horse with an 8.90.

"I am very happy," Naughton said. "I have been working very hard and I am glad it shows. "

Schaumburg showed very well, too. The Saxons won their first MSL title since 2000 with a score of 152.90.

"We are doing great," Schaumburg coach Erik Bostrom said. "It was definitely one of our team goals. We just are looking to press forward, clean up a few things from tonight and hopefully do the same thing next week at sectionals."

Besides Kulesza, the Saxons were keyed by Brandon Nyborg, who won the the floor with a 9.40. Nathan Frank was eighth in the all-around, while Jake Raeside was third on the rings.

Hersey was second with a 149.95 as the Huskies claimed the MSL East title.

"We had a pretty good meet," Hersey coach Joon Yun said. "The score did not reflect how well we did. Throughout the season we wanted to have this type of meet, and today we did."

With Naughton leading the way, the Huskies also counted on Matt Bednar, who was fifth in the all-around with a 51.05. Justin Loeung, who was fifth on the vault, also came up big for the Huskies.

Palatine finished third with a 143.90. The Pirates were led by Chris Lunsford, who was fourth in the all-around with a 51.85. Lunsford also won the parallel bars with a 9.40 and tied Barrington's Braedon Weaver on the vault with a 9.10. \

Palatine senior Nick Vlha won the rings with an 8.85.

"I was really proud of our two guys that won championships," Palatine coach Scott Hagel said. "You want to see the guys who work hard pay off, and that's what happened tonight."