Stevenson closes in on state championship

Stevenson's girls gymnastics team appears to be right on course for a state championship at the girls gymnastics state meet in Palatine.

However, in their last event of the preliminaries Friday night, the Patriots got knocked off course a bit by a brief scare.

Stevenson's Shana Manning landed awkwardly on her second pass on floor and couldn't continue her routine. Manning ended up with a hyperextended knee and had to be carried off. But Manning was walking on crutches a short time later

Chelsie Seplowin took over the controls as the last Patriots' gymnast under some unusual pressure and landed the third-best all-around score (9.525), tying Carmel's Amber Mirski.

Thus, Stevenson sits in the top spot in the team standings with 148.55, ahead of Sandburg (147.775) with the finals left this evening beginning at 6:30 p.m.

"I saw her face (Manning) and I knew I couldn't break down now," Seplowin said of Manning's fall. "I knew my chance at an all-around title would be done. I had to do it for Shana, her senior year.

"I know everything happens for a reason. I was put up there to do it. I thought this was the scariest thing to happen to me in my whole life. I just wanted to stay focused. I knew I could do this, and I did it."

Seplowin delivered her best all-around finish in four years by taking third (37.95) with a fall on the beam. She finished behind Jenny Covers (38.3) of Prairie Ridge, who became the first all-around champion not competing on a team since Tiffany Champman (38.35) of Rock Island did it in 1993 and Sandburg's Krystyn Misheck (37.975).

"With a fall like that on beam, I'd never expect third place," Seplowin said. "It's my last year and I end it with a bang. I'd prefer not to fall on beam, but I went on and did my business."

Ali Castriano, a freshman for the Patriots placed eighth in the all-around (37.25).

Seplowin flew through the air, chalking up the top score on the bars (9.7) and also advanced on vault (9.7). Caitlin Pagano (9.475), Stephanie Wojton (9.375) and Castriano (9.325) also qualified on bars for Stevenson. Castriano will also compete on beam (9.4) in the finals.

Stevenson led after the first two events over Sandburg 75.875-74.3, but the Patriots had slipped a bit on beam (36.525) and on the floor (36.15).

"I didn't think the beam was a disaster, but the floor was a disaster," Stevenson coach Judy Harwood said. "I don't know if it was a long day or if they were overexcited.

"I thought we did well the first part, but it's hard for the other part, being five hours later. It's hard to keep the energy going."

Carmel still can get a third-place trophy. The Corsairs are in a group of four teams separated six-tenths of a point: Glenbard North (146.625), Carmel (146.425), Fremd (146.375) and Lyons (146.025).

"I've been saying it since preseason, we can be in contention for a trophy," Carmel coach Sarah Mikrut-Doyle said. "I'm not sure if anybody really believed it. It will come down to tenths. In some cases we didn't get the job done.

"We can still get some tenths back (in finals) - and everybody can, too."

The Corsairs' Mirski finished sixth in the all-around (37.35) and qualified for finals on bars (9.35) with her sister Kristin (9.3), who also qualified on bars and floor (9.3).

"It's good to be back in finals on bars and floor," said Mirski who didn't medal in the finals last year. "I'm hoping to do better and be on the podium. I'm more comfortable with the atmosphere and it's the third year being here."