Boys gymnastics: A high point for Schaumburg's Kulesza on high bar

Schaumburg's Oscar Kulesza put an exclamation point on his season Saturday in the boys gymnastics individual state finals at Hoffman Estates.

The freshman had qualified for just one finals event, but came up with one of his best routines of the season on the high bar to score a 9.20. That was good enough to earn him a tie for third place. Kulesza also became the only Mid-Suburban League competitor to earn a top-five state finish.

"I am very excited," Kulesza said. "It was all so fast. It was fun and very smooth. It was very nice. I was happy to make it to the finals in my favorite event."

Schaumburg coach Erik Bostrom stepped in at the last minute to earn his gymnast another tenth of a point. Kulesza was originally scored with a 9.10, but officials had his start value incorrect. Bostrom caught the error and that was the difference in the score.

"That was huge," Bostrom said. "He did great job. That was one of his best, if not the best, routines he has had all year. Tonight was the night to do it. He came out and in the one event he made the finals. He knew he wanted to hit, and he pulled together and did just that."

Although he didn't win medal in an event, Palatine's Christian Lunsford came away as a big winner. Lunsford was name senior gymnast of the year in a vote by the coaches.

"This is an honor to receive this," said Lunsford, who plans to attend Iowa next year and major in history. He hopes to eventually teach and coach gymnastics in high school.

"I didn't think I would win this," Lunsford said. "I didn't know I was chosen until my name was announced. It was awesome."

Lunsford became the second consecutive Palatine gymnast to win the award. Last year, the Pirates' Prakash Nigam was named senior gymnast of the year.

Palatine coach Scott Hagel said Lunsford typifies what a senior gymnast should be.

"All the guys on our team call Christian 'Father,' " Hagel said. "Since he was a freshman, he has always helped the guys in our gym. He is a top-notch kid. He has unbelievable character and work ethic. I am lucky I have him in my PE class as well. It has been a pleasure to have him these four years."

Lunsford also made it to one final event. He had a solid rings performance, but received an 8.90, good for seventh place in the state.

Rolling Meadows' Ben Kowalski came up just a bit short of a state medal in the three events in which he finaled. The junior was sixth in the vault with a 9.15, sixth on floor exercise with a 9.30 and seventh on high bar with an 8.90.

"I was pretty excited to make the finals in three events," said Kowalski, who missed medals by .05 in both the vault and floor. "I just came in and I hit some good routines, but just missed placing. It was a little disappointing. But I got a feel for the state meet and I am going back to work next Monday to get ready for next year."

Rolling Meadows coach Michael Costa said he was impressed by how far Kowalski came this season. Kowalski was injured early in the year and didn't begin to get into gymnastics shape until just a month ago.

"He worked hard to get here," Costa said. "There was no way we thought back in January that Ben would be here, or even viable for the season. Technically he has been 100 percent for only a month. For him to put this all together in that short span of time is pretty miraculous."

Hersey's Garrett Naughton made the transition from club gymnastics to high school gymnastics a successful one. The sophomore, who was 13th in the all-around on Friday, finished ninth on the pommel horse with an 8.80 and 10th on the vault with a 9.00.

"I put up a pretty good score on each event," Naughton said. "It was a real fun experience. I thought I did as well as I could."

Hersey coach Jon Yun said Naughton earned his way into the finals.

"Garrett worked very hard throughout the season and this is his reward for his hard work," Yun said. "This is what we have been working for. This is is his first year in high school gymnastics and to make the finals is definitely exciting."

Hoffman Estates' Alex Collier became the first male gymnast from his school to qualify for the individual finals in 12 years. Collier, a sophomore, made the most of his appearance before his hometown supporters, scoring a 9.10 on the vault to finish tied for seventh.

"I feel a lot better to know that I am the first Hoffman gymnast to make it to the finals in a long time," Collier said. "I was happy with my vault and my score. I had a 9.15 to qualify, which was my personal best and I got a 9.10 here. I felt like it was a good vault and I got enough height on it."

Hoffman Estates coach Ryan Brown was ecstatic with how Collier competed in both the prelims and the finals.

"It is pretty exciting," Brown said. "This was my first gymnast in the finals, and in our own gym. It has been a couple of exciting days. I am proud of Alex. He did very well and these are the highest scores get has received on vault all season."

Hoffman Estates was hosting the state finals for the first time. Observers and gymnastics enthusiasts gave the Hoffman Estates staff and workers high marks for the meet.

Glenbard West's Aiden Rudolph and Alexander Demeris won the floor with a 9.55. Highland Park's Kevin Connors won the parallel bars with a 9.55 and the rings with a 9.60. Cary-Grove's Luka Sisauri won the pommel horse with a 9.45, Lyons' Matt O'Malley won the vault with a 9.50 and Downers Grove North's Lukas Elisha won the high bar with a 9.50.