Boys gymnastics: Foerch adds to state title collection with Deerfield
There was more than enough drama to go around Friday night at the 67th high school boys state gymnastics meet at Hoffman Estates.
Not only did the team competition go down to the wire with Deerfield and Glenbard West tied at 132.35 after five events, but the all-around championship ended up finishing in an unheard of first-place tie.
The Warriors scored 27.45 on parallel bars to 26.05 for Glenbard West on still rings to capture their first boys gymnastics team title in school history, 159.8 to 158.4 over the Hilltoppers.
In the process, Deerfield coach Doug Foerch became the first coach in boys gymnastics state history to win championships with two different schools. He won his sixth and final crown with Mundelein to cap a three-peat in 2000.
The battle for the third-place trophy was also a nail-biter as Lyons held off Wheaton co-op 156.55 to 156.1 to take home the hardware.
And the challenge for fifth place also came down to the final event with Mundelein toppling Schaumburg 154.45 to 153.45 in that late-meet showdown.
Foerch also became the first coach to take two different teams to the same Elite Eight meet as his Highland Park squad placed seventh with 152.55 points. Downers Grove North (150.35) rounded out the field. Foerch has now coached 11 teams to top-three trophies (nine at Mundelein, two at Deerfield).
"We missed pommel horse (23.0 points) on our third event, but the kids came back strong after that on the next three events," said Foerch, who also coached Mundelein to titles in 1989, 1990, and 1993. "I didn't think that we could win it this year until the last few weeks. I'm glad that I could bring something to Deerfield and show them what it's all about coming from Mundelein."
The Mustangs got their meet off on the wrong foot with a 25.75 on vault and were trying to play catch-up the rest of the way after scoring 155.95 points last week at sectionals.
"We're really proud of the guys, and we knew coming in that our top three guys needed to have a perfect meet for us to finish in the top three," said Mundelein coach Jesse Piland, whose team competed in their 22nd Elite Eight meet in school history. "Kurt (Lawrence) had an awesome meet, he just flew home this morning from the national meet (at Oklahoma City), and he was a stud today."
Willowbrook senior Adam Sousa and Highland Park junior Kevin Connors tied for first place in the all-around with 55.6 points each (9.2667 average) while Downers Grove North's Lukas Elisha (54.35) placed third. Lawrence (53.45) was outstanding in placing sixth overall.
"I wanted to be like top five, but I was more concerned with our team today," said Lawrence, who may have been underscored with only an 8.9 on high bar. "I'm running on four hours of sleep, so I'm going to get some sleep and do as well as I can tomorrow."
After scoring 52.5 points at sectionals, Mundelein senior Tyler Collins struggled to a 20th-place finish overall with 51.05 points as a fall on his high bar dismount early in the meet was tough for him to overcome.
Competing in his first season in the IHSA, Libertyville junior Max Faber placed 19th overall (51.1 points), as an early fall on pommel horse cost Faber .50 points.
"Overall he did pretty much what he did at sectionals so it was a great meet, and it was great to get the experience of the state meet," said Libertyville coach Josh Cimo, whose team will have five individuals competing on Saturday with three aiming for a shot at the finals. "He (Faber) handled his nerves well, he was under control the whole time, and high bar was probably his best event."
Senior Carson Bernett, junior Will Ferro, and freshman Kyle Massel were the other contributors to Mundelein's success in the team competition.
Former Mundelein coach Eric Liva came close to winning titles with two different schools as he guided the Mustangs to second place in 2003 before capturing the state title as Stevenson's coach in 2015.