Batavia has a blast at state
It took nearly 20 years for a Batavia girl gymnastics team to earn the right to compete in the state finals.
On Friday at Palatine High School the best Bulldogs team in school history concluded its highlight-reel-filled season by finishing in eighth place with a 143.8.
Stevenson holds a 148.550 to 147.775 advantage over Sandburg/Stagg Co-op while there's quite a battle for third place with four teams separated by 0.5. Batavia may not be one of them, but that hardly matters to a team that seemingly did it all this winter.
"The same teams are here year after year and to be with them today was really something special," Batavia coach Taryn Boyce said. "They were real excited today and had a blast. I'm really proud to be here today and to be their coach."
The Bulldogs' top individual performances came from sophomore Emma Gear whose 9.3 in the floor exercise was just good enough to tie her for 10th and give her a chance to compete again this evening. Senior Rachel Besic's vault scored a 9.525 which tied her for 9th and extended her high school career.
"You can't ask for anything more," Boyce said. "It's so amazing. Eighth in the state. They looked great out there, didn't crack under pressure, and almost did as good as they did at sectional."
Junior Danae Fuqua led the Bulldogs in the all-around with a 36.125, which placed her in 22nd place. While her season is over, she said she'll relish what occurred on Friday night and look forward to her senior year.
"It didn't hit me until last night that we were really going to be here," she said. "We worked so hard to get here and basically knew that we had nowhere else to go except to come out and enjoy the experience and do well while we're at it. I think we did that."
St. Charles Co-op senior Liz Fairweather put the finishing touches on her career by edging Fuqua in the all-around with a 36.175 for 21st place. Fairweather registered an 8.975 on a solid beam routine, smiling throughout her performance before sharing a big hug with her coaches afterward.
"I felt pretty good with every skill I landed," Fairweather said. "I've been consistent on beam all year so it was a good way to end my high school career."
Teammate Stephanie de la Torriente completed her season with a 9.175 in the floor exercise. Unaccustomed to competing in a single event, the junior said once it was her turn to compete the adrenalin was pumping.
"When you get out there you know you have to do it," she said. "I thought I did pretty good and it's just how the judges see it."
The judges will have one final opportunity this season to see Besic on vault and Gear in the floor exercise. The championship finals begin tonight at 6:45 p.m.