Palatine powers to fourth straight MSL title
Palatine's grip on the Mid-Suburban League boys gymnastics championship remained as firm as ever Friday night at Conant High School.
With senior Andre Gatorano winning the all-around title, the Pirates' score of 156.05 was easily the best over runner-up Prospect (147.70) as they ran their consecutive streak to four straight MSL titles.
"We were hoping for a good run of four years, especially after graduating such a good gymnast as Matt Eckardt (last year's MSL all-around champion)," said Pirates coach Scott Hagel. "He was an elite all-arounder. To do this again after Matt graduated says a lot about the guys on this year's team."
Gatorano won the floor exercise (9.35) and the horizontal bar (8.80), while classmate Luke Schuster was first on the still rings (8.55).
Senior David Irsay gave the Pirates a boost in the pommel horse with a solid 9.25, finishing second behind champion John Scallon of Rolling Meadows (9.4).
"It's Andre," said Irsay, when talking about the Pirates' big night. "He works so hard. And so do the rest of the guys on this team. We had about five to seven guys who were in the gym all fall and winter. A lot of our guys just work at it year round and that's why our program is where it is."
Prospect delivered its high score of the season to take second place ahead of Conant (143.65), Fremd (140.25) and Elk Grove (138.40).
Knights senior Joe Napoleon was second in the all-around (50.05), with his highest placing in vault (third with a 9.55) behind Fremd champion Dante Digangi - who scored a 9.70 and runner-up Gatorano 9.65.
"Joe did a great job," said Knights coach Pat Kivland, whose team's previous best score this spring was a 145. "That 147.7 was good for us and we had a bad still rings. So we still have work to do. It will take close to 150 to make it to state."
In addition to Digangi's win on vault, Fremd also took first-place honors on parallel bars, where Brandon Trostrud recorded a 9.1 to defeat Gatorano (9.0) and Schuster (8.95).
Sophomore Steve Rink (50.05), junior Anthony Crivolio (48.90) and senior Clinton Martin (42.50) were third, fourth and ninth, respectively in the all-around to help the Cougars grab third place.
"They're always neck and neck, good for them," said Conant coach Randy Smith. "It's those three, that's the Conant Cougars right there. It's tough with those three having all the weight on their shoulders. You've got to give them credit. If they get used to the pressure now, Steve and Anthony will be big studs next years."
Meadows coach Chris Cassidy said Scallon can score higher than 9.4 on the pommel horse.
"He had a two-tenths deduction for his dismount and he is capable of that," the coach said. "A 9.6 of 9.7 is not of the question."