Batavia hits high marks again

There's an element of sadness that can permeate a Senior Recognition Night.

It's the final time for seniors to compete at home and forces them to come to grips with the fact that the end of their high school careers is coming soon.

While the end of the gymnastics season is less than a month away, Batavia's three seniors were in a festive mood on Wednesday night as they continued to prepare for what they hope is a lengthy postseason run that culminates in a trip to state.

Batavia, which posted a season-high and school-record 142.8 at home against South Elgin on Monday, netted a 142 on Wednesday, which easily bested Glenbard South's 127.3.

"We were hoping for another record, a 144," Batavia coach Taryn Boyce said. "We're completely capable of a 144 with our skills and everything right now, but we had a rough start on vault today but came back and probably had our highest floor score of the season."

Sophomore Emma Gear won the floor exercise with a career-best 9.4, while senior Rachel Besic (9.3) and Danae Fuqua (9.1) had strong finishes.

If not for St. Edward's Jordyn Madden winning the vault with a 9.45, Batavia would have had four different gymnasts win all four events as Besic took second on vault (9.3) while Fuqua won bars (9.25) and senior Alessandra Bronzino won beam (9.1).

"We didn't get the 144 we've wanted but we were still consistent score-wise and that was even with some falls today," Bronzino said. "We're kind of sad as seniors but we still have conference and the end of the season to concentrate on."

Besic led the Bulldogs in the all-around with a 36.15.

"They're at that perfect peak right now," Boyce said. "They're strong, they're healthy and they're getting in new skill. They're confident and showing things off a lot better and today I wasn't even watching our score and then I saw the final and was like 'We got a 142 again' and a month ago it would've been a different story if we did that."

The Raiders haven't reached the status of the Bulldogs, but they did post a season-high score, led by all-arounders Michelle Kohout (33.5) and Kristen McWilliams (33.3). McWilliams' performance was highlighted by an 8.8 on beam, the second highest score of the night on that event.

"That was very nice for Kristen," Glenbard South coach Donna Murphy said. "We're still averaging in the mid 125s which isn't bad for us and we still have one girl out and Michelle's knees are bothering her again.

"Hopefully we can hold on these next two weeks and try to get (Kohout and McWilliams) through to sectionals."