Glenbard West, Glenbard North earn way to state meet
Glenbard West is going to state.
Glenbard North is coming too.
Glenbard West beat Glenbard North 146.525-145.125 during Thursday's Glenbard West girls gymnastics sectional. The Hilltoppers posted the third-highest sectional total to win and advance to next weekend's state finals, while the Panthers were nearly as solid in posting the second-highest score of the four at-large qualifier teams.
"We knew going in we needed a 144 score, but we wanted to go out and have the meet that we have the potential of having," Glenbard West coach Carlos Fuentes said. "We weren't looking at scores but aiming as high as we can because we wanted to win and make sure of getting to state."
Displaying incredible depth, Glenbard West competed with eight gymnasts and a single all-arounder in Missy Guzman, who placed fourth overall. A few of the many highlights for the winners included Becky Mladucky winning bars with a 9.575, Sarah Udelhofen placing second on vault, Megan Brennan taking third on vault, Guzman tying for fifth on bars and Shannon Dietz taking seventh on bars.
"A lot of the success has to do with depth," Fuentes said. "Everybody knows their part and we have quality scores up and down the lineup. With the girls pulling together like this they continue to put up these kind of scores."
After leaving last week's Glenbard North regional a bit disappointed with how it performed, the Panthers were solid from top to bottom.
"We wanted to make it to state, but I didn't want them to walk away with any regrets," Glenbard North coach Lindsay Schultz said. "We still had some bobbles on bars and vault was OK but not our best of the year, but we finished by going 5 for 5 on beam. I'm so proud of the girls. They came out and didn't hold anything back."
South Elgin/Bartlett/Streamwood co-op edged Neuqua Valley for third place, 138.225-138, while Naperville North edged Geneva 137.775-137.3 for fifth place.
"They've worked so hard and pulled together as a team," Neuqua Valley coach Christine Clark said. "I told them that no matter what happens that have a lot to proud of this season."
The Wildcats will be sending a couple of gymnasts to state. In her debut season junior Morgan Knight will make her first state appearance, qualifying on vault thanks to her fifth-place finish. Catherine Miller is also heading to Palatine. The senior barely snuck in, securing one of the final at-large qualifiers with her 8.9 on beam.
A couple of seniors from Naperville North earned the right to compete again. Carolyn Filarski placed third on bars with a 9.325, while the 9.3 she earned in the floor exercise secured an at-large berth. Meanwhile, Tori Tanaka took sixth on beam, which was strong enough to snag an at-large qualifier as well.
Addison Trail's Alyssa Cruz was one of seven gymnasts to be the lone representative from an area school. Cruz put together an incredible performance, winning the all-around with a 38.225, the highest all-around in any of the four state sectionals.
"It felt very good, I hit everything," Cruz said. "I just try to get better and better each time out, and it seems to be working. Hopefully, I can continue this and if I do my best I should do all right."
Cruz dominated the sectional, scoring a 9.575 on beam, 9.475 in the floor exercise and 9.675 on vault to win those events while placing second on bars with a 9.5
Wheaton Warrenville South senior Elizabeth Ciesielski finished her by taking seventh place in all-around and narrowly qualifying for state. The senior is state-bound in the floor exercise as she tied for third with a 9.4.