Seplowin stars as Stevenson dominates
Senior Chelsie Seplowin found herself in a familiar spot - atop the leaderboard.
Seplowin swept first places in all four events and hit a season-best all-around average of 38.4 to help Stevenson capture the North Suburban Conference girls gymnastics meet Thursday night in Mundelein.
The Patriots soared to 149.1 to end a recent streak of NSC domination by Warren.
Three years ago as a freshman, Seplowin sat in front of the uneven bars and balance beam watching other elite gymnasts perform their routines.
Now Seplowin has become one of the state's best gymnasts and others watch her compete.
"It's not anything with the pressure getting to me," said Seplowin, who won four of five events at last year's NSC meet and has captured all-around honors in every meet this season that she's competed in all four events.
"The first goal is pulling for the team. I'm just out there doing my best. Knock on wood, I haven't lost an all-around yet. This was the best meet so far, even though I wasn't feeling too well."
Seplowin's scores included 9.7 on vault, 9.6 on floor exercise, 9.55 on balance beam and 9.55 on uneven bars.
The Patriots' Shana Manning (36.8) and Ali Castriano (36.3) placed second and third, respectively, in the all-around. Manning was second on floor (9.55), tied for third on beam (9.1) with Lake Forest's Ofelia Carmichael and took fifth on bars (8.9).
"I'm just enjoying it and having fun again," Manning said of her season-best floor routine. "I'm showing the routine off more and hitting my tumbling passes."
Castriano finished second on beam (9.3) and Caitlin Pagano second on bars (9.45).
Stevenson's Stephanie Wojton placed fourth on bars (8.95), while her sister Theresa was fifth on floor (9.15) and beam (9.05).
Stevenson eclipsed 149 for the second straight time, having hit a season-best 149.8 in its final NSC dual meet Monday.
"We still have a lot of room for improvement based on what we did here," said Stevenson coach Judy Harwood. "The girls don't feel satisfied with what they did. We're doing fine, but it's not up to their potential yet."
Lake Forest was second with 139.85 and Libertyville (135.05) third.
Libertyville's Leah Herchenbach was fourth in the all-around (35.85), fourth on vault (9.55) and fourth on floor (9.25).
Warren's Katie Vovolka took fifth in all-around (35.7). She was second on vault (9.65).
Kelsey Teegen landed third on floor (9.4) for Mundelein.
"I hit my first pass and everything went along pretty good for me," said Teegen, who had a 9.5 on floor in an earlier invite. "I think everything is coming together and paying off at the right time for regionals and sectionals."