Pats conquer nerves -- and foes

Before the Stevenson girls gymnastics team got going on Thursday night.

There were nerves for several members of the Stevenson girls gymnastics team on Thursday night.

But once the regional meet got going, the host Patriots warmed to the task and posted their season-best score of 148.75. Libertyville finished second at 135.5, followed by Deerfield (130.25) and Highland Park (105.9).

Stevenson's Chelsie Seplowin won three events and the all-around, and teammate Stephanie Wojton won the other event.

"I was surprised in warm-ups how nervous they were," Stevenson coach Judy Harwood said. "I was impressed on how they pulled themselves together. They competed really strong together, and if they continue like that, then they can be a force. We're definitely a contender now."

Seplowin chalked up top honors on vault (9.5), beam (9.5), floor (9.6) and all-around (38.025). Seplowin took second on bars (9.425).

"I come out and think I've got to do a certain routine," said Seplowin, a junior. "It's amazing to get a 38. I remember as a freshman getting 36s. I was so happy for myself. Seeing myself get 2 more points is a big thing."

Wojton won bars (9.45), then took seconds on floor (9.575), beam (9.4), fourth on vault (9.375) and second in the all-around (37.8). Shana Manning was third in the all-around (37.325), tied for second on vault with Prairie Ridge's Jennifer Covers (9.4), and took third on beam (9.25) and bars (9.175). Lauren Patterson placed fifth in the all-around at 35.6 behind Covers of Prairie Ridge (36.05).

Patterson also tied for fifth on bars with Deerfield's Abby Ross 8.9.

Libertyville is trying to reach the Stevenson sectional next Tuesday with an at-large bid as a team and will have to await results from Friday's Barrington regional.

"This is a team with a lot of heart," Libertyville coach Curt Austin said. "They did a lot of amazing things and I thought they competed very well.

Libertyville's Amanda Winn finished fifth on vault with 9.325. Her teammate Lauren Herchenbach took fourth on bars (9) and Megan Stubbs landed fifth on floor (9.225).

"On my second one, I landed it and I knew it felt good," said Winn, on her pike-Tsuk vault. "It's always good to land one like that at regionals."

Covers took fourth on floor (9.425) and fifth on beam (8.55).

Highland Park's Maggie Kopp qualified on beam, placing fourth with an 8.6.