Boys gymnastics: Baren, Hunter qualify; Wheaton co-op makes it 10 in a row

Neuqua Valley freshman Michael Baren advanced to state on his first try.

Naperville North senior Michael Hunter Jr. made it for a second straight year.

And Wheaton Warrenville co-op qualified as a boys gymnastics team for the 10th consecutive season.

All things considered, these were the three biggest local success stories during Wednesday's Wheaton Warrenville South boys gymnastics sectional.

Freshman Nicky Franz led the sectional champions, winning the all-around and pommel horse, taking second on high bar, parallel bars and still rings and fifth on floor. Aiden Moran was fifth in the all-around and tied for third on floor and tied for fifth on pommel horse. Fellow senior Joey DiRienzo was third on high bar and pommel horse and fourth on parallel bars. Sophomore Cade Houlihan tied Moran for third on floor and had a pair of fifth-place finishes on parallel bars and vault.

"It's never going to be perfect, but we also didn't want to peak at this meet," DiRienzo said. "We just kept on pushing coming in here and doing our skills and what we needed to do. It was not our best, but we're going to state 10 years in a row now so we're proud of that fact."

Moran acknowledged that the seniors were particularly anxious.

"The big thing for me, Joey and Jeffrey (Huecias) was we were all tense and that's something that plays into trying to be perfect in a meet," he said. "I feel like the pressure is always here this time of the year whether or not we think we're a shoo-in for state or not. It's always full attempts and we never get cocky. The guys have been working really hard in the gym, I can tell you that."

Wheaton co-op has returned home with three state titles and two runner-up trophies during its 10-year state run. The last time it didn't qualify for state was when the finals were held in Barrington in 2008. It has since gone annually to Lincoln-Way East and Hinsdale Central and now will go to Hoffman Estates next weekend.

"We can now go into state happy, not nervous and motivated, but not fearful," Moran said. "I think we need to do a lot better at state than we did tonight and I think we have done better this season. We did some good things, but we know we could've done better. We can always do better."

Michael Hunter Jr., who advanced to state on vault and floor a year ago, did so again. He tied for fifth on floor and took fourth outright on vault.

"I really didn't expect this, but I'm glad it worked out," he said. "The competition was very tough this year, and the judges really focused on form so I was surprised to be able to place and advance."

He's certain he made his No. 1 fan happy.

"I thank God, my coaches and definitely my Mom," he said. "She's my No. 1 fan. It seems like just yesterday it was last year's sectional and I was just finding out I was going to state. It's a great feeling."

Baren, the lone competitor for Neuqua Valley, made a statement by winning vault and parallel bars. He also took second in the all-around.

"It was exciting," he said. "The guys I was rotating with were great. They basically had me joining them on their team. I really felt like I had a connection with them and I just did what I do best and really enjoyed it."

Baren was only edged by Franz, 53.7 to 53.4, for the all-around title. Both should be in the mix at state in the all-around and individual events.

"I took second place at nationals on parallel bars and the following year I took third," Baren said. "Parallel bars has always been my thing, but this year I'm getting good on vault and rings and kind of filling out and getting solid everywhere."

Naperville North (129.85), Glenbard South (115.5) and Naperville Central (113.5) also competed, but Hunter, from Naperville North, was the lone state qualifier among the three teams.