The best going-away present

Coaches will tell you time and time again that it's not about them but about the kids on the team.

That may be so, but something magical seems to be taking place right before the eyes of those competing in boys high school gymnastics.

Last year York won the state title in coach Rich Larsen's final year with the team. Friday night at Lincoln-Way East, Glenbard North won the state title in what will be coach Edsel Clark's final season with the team. Even Steve Kafka, who retired last year from Glenbard West, where he also won a state title in 1996, was in attendance to offer congratulations.

But the story in Frankfort wasn't about Clark or former coaches, it was about Glenbard North sophomores Ryan Kennedy and Jesus Soto and seniors Tyler DeAnda, Tyler Arl and Ryan Vandenack, all of whom combined to lead the Panthers to their first state title since 1992, the same year Soto was born.

Glenbard North finished with another school record with a 160.2 while runner-up Lincoln-Way co-op closed with a 159.3. Defending champion York clipped Wheaton co-op for third place, 157.6 to 157.5, and Downers Grove North claimed fifth place with a 156.850.

"You play out all the different scenarios in your mind and you know what these guys are capable of doing because you see it in practice and warmups and other meets, but I also realize that in my limited experience as coach that the chances of having a perfect meet are slim," Clark said. "Throughout this week we tried to reinforce that we don't have to be perfect, but we have to be good. These guys were better than good tonight."

The final two events for the Panthers, pommel horse and still rings, were crucial, especially with runner-up Lincoln-Way co-op finishing on parallel bars, the one event the Panthers struggled with on Friday.

Vandenack closed for the Panthers on pommel horse with a 9, which gave the team a 26.5 on the event.

"I think the biggest moment was on horse," DeAnda said. "We all nailed our horse routines and we hadn't done that in awhile."

Lincoln-Way only trailed 133.150 to 132.350 going into the final event of the night, but the Panthers carried the momentum from their pommel horse success onto still rings where DeAnda had an 8.55 before Soto dazzled the crowd with a 9.35 and Arl followed with a 9.15 to wrap up the championship.

"It was amazing," Soto said. "I just went in and locked everything out, let it all go and stayed focused. It turned out great."

Arl said the team's discipline in maintaining focus and not getting caught up in what the competition was doing made the biggest difference in converting from a challenger to a champion.

"We finally figured out that we do our best when we don't look at anyone," he said. "We went into the hallways, pumped each other up and didn't look at other scores. Once we did that everything came together perfectly."

What may take awhile is for the reality of being champions to soak in.

"This is the best feeling I've ever had," Vandenack said. "I thought we could do it, but didn't imagine it would be like this. I really can't explain it."

Wheaton fell one-tenth of a point short of a third-place trophy, but that didn't disappoint coach Chad Downie.

"I have no qualms with the outcome," he said. "We would've liked a trophy, but on the whole the kids did well. Tim Krueger went 6-for-6, Darren Fill went 6-for-6 and Mike Brackman went 5-for-5. How do I complain about that?"

York first-year coach Larry Ohannes said winning third place was the highlight of the Dukes' season.

"I'm super excited for my kids," he said. "They didn't score high on events they normally do, but they hit events they typically don't hit. We had a fighting chance tonight and I'm very proud of them."