Geneva takes 2nd, Batavia 3rd in final Independent meet
The Geneva girls gymnastics team hoped to close its final Independent Conference Meet with a championship.
The Vikings came up just short on Saturday, falling to host Oswego, 138.625 to 138.2.
Batavia placed a distant third with a 134.925 followed by Glenbard South (127.3), Fenton (123.675) and Riverside-Brookfield (122.2).
"We had a rough time on vault today and it showed," Geneva coach Kim Hostman said. "It was disappointing because it was so close, and if we would've hit we would've taken conference."
Emily Ott continued her astounding progression as a gymnast for the Vikings. A floor specialist a season ago, Ott competed as an all-arounder for the first time in her high school career and beat Batavia's Danae Fuqua for the all-around title, 36.1 to 35.625. Ott also won the floor exercise with a 9.2.
"I hadn't done a full routine on bars before so it worked out well," Ott said. "It was good to get it out before the regional."
In addition to Ott's effort, the Vikings received strong contributions from several others. Kaitlyn Kanarowski took second on bars with an 8.8 and sixth in the all-around with a 34.05. Cami Pfetzer tied Fuqua for fourth place in the floor exercise with an 8.825 and shared fifth place with teammate Alexis Graham on beam with an 8.775.
Hosting a regional for the first time in school history on Monday, the Vikings are aiming to eclipse a 140 score.
"They're a really hard working team and very supportive of each other," Hostman said. "If we can have a strong showing on vault (on Monday) I think we'll be right up there."
Batavia struggled on beam and the floor exercise but also received a pair of first place finishes. Danae Fuqua had a fall on bars but won with an 8.950 and claimed the top spot on the vault with a 9.25.
"It was definitely a little surprising to win on bars," Fuqua said. "We just tried to take it event by event. We'll try to clean things up for next weekend (Glenbard West regional, Feb. 6)."
Melissa Van Ham took fourth on the vault with a 9.05 and Emma Gear placed third on the vault, beam and the all-around.
Glenbard South struggled after Lacey Van Derend hyperextended her knee during her floor exercise. Michelle Kohout took tenth on the vault with an 8.725 and Ashley Ellis placed ninth in the floor exercise with an 8.35 to pace the Raiders.
"I don't know if Lacey falling put the girls in a tailspin," Glenbard South coach Donna Murphy said.. "Lacey recovered and did a watered down beam routine so she'll be alright going into regional but they're all so sore and we have to go on Monday night."
Fenton received a couple of notable finishes as Haley Sabala claimed fifth place on bars with an 8.475 and Becky Aichele took sixth on the vault with an 8.875.