Conant regains gymnastics glory
Conant is back on top of the Mid-Suburban League boys gymnastics world.
After capturing double-digit titles in the 1980s and '90s, the Cougars got their first crown since 2001 as they scored a 155.95 to top Fremd (148.75), Palatine (148.00) and MSL East champion Elk Grove (138.75) at Fremd on Friday night.
The Cougars took the top two spots in the all-around behind Anthony Crivolio (52.75) and Steven Rink (51. l60). Palatine's Mike Abram (51.30) was third, followed by Conant's Joey Mauk (50.85) and Rolling Meadows' Marc Herff (50.45).
"It wasn't my cleanest meet, but it was definitely a goal of mine to be the MSL champ (all-around)," said Crivolio, who plans to try and walk on at the University of Iowa. "Everything didn't go exactly the way I wanted, but my parallel bars was pretty clean and my rings were really clean."
"I was probably most happy with my high bar," Rink said "I hit my routine. I had some tiny form bends but nothing major."
Crivolio won the vault with a score of 9.5, followed by Buffalo Grove's Erik Balko (9.40), Fremd's Dave Allison (9.15), BG's Kyle Chamberlain (9.15), Hersey's Drew Schulz (9.10), Palatine's Mike Abram (9.10) and Fremd's Brandon Trostrud (9.10).
"If he makes a mistake, Anthony is always able to move on to the next event and I can always count on him," said Cougars coach Paul Kim. "Steve Rink was our most consistent performer. Joey Mauk wasn't feeling 100 percent but he still gave solid scores. He's a great competitor and I can always count on him."
Mauk won the still rings (9.05), followed by Crivolio (8.95), Herff (8.85), Abram (8.50) and Barrington's Tom Olandese (8.25).
Mauk also took first on the parallel bars (9.3), followed by Herff (9.20), Trostrud (9.15), Prospect's Jim Brault (9.15) and Crivolio (9.0).
Senior John Scallon, the local prince of the pommel horse, won the event for the second straight year.
He carded a 9.0 - followed by Rink (8.9), Fremd's C.J. Patton (8.9), Conant's Abbas Musabji (8.4), Elk Grove's Mark Koelper (8.4) and Fremd's Mike Kowalenko (8.4).
"It was the last event and there was lot of time to wait," said Scallon, a University of Minnesota recruit who recently posted his personal-best score of 9.8. "I've just got to learn to keep my focus. I did my warmups and then had to wait an hour and a half. I only do two events so I was still fairly cool. I'll try for a nice clean routine at the sectional."
Barrington senior Kellen O'Conner (9.45) won the floor exercise for the first time in his career after placing fourth as a sophomore and 12th last year.
"I'm glad I finally pulled it off my senior year," said O'Conner, who has been third, seventh and fifth the last three years at state. "I've been getting more consistent in practice with it."
Mauk (9.25) was second on the floor, followed by Abram (9.20), Allison (9.1) and Crivolio (9.05).
The top score in the high bar went to Elk Grove junior Damian Zukowski (8.85), followed by Rink (8.55), Brault (8.25), Trostrud (8.20) and Crivolio (8.10).
"I hit everything," Zukowski said of his high bar performance. "I hit all my tricks, my execution was great and I stuck the dismount."
Nick Alcazar, one of Elk Grove's top all-arounders, was not available (wrist injury).
"Winning the East was big because we didn't have Nick," said Grens coach Keith Mukai. "He might not be ready for sectionals. I'm glad he didn't break it (wrist). I knew we had the firepower to do it (win the East) but the guys had to hit their routines."
Fremd coach Tim Hamman saw his team edge Palatine by .75.
"All season, we've been close with them," Hamann said. "Now there's one more time (sectional next Saturday at Conant). The kids from both teams get along real well and the coaches, too. I hope we both score well."
"Another squeaker between Fremd and us," said Pirates coach Scott Hagel, whose team won the MSL the last four years. "The sectional is when it counts most. Hopefully we both can clean up things and make it as teams (to state finals)."
Conant will also be looking for a better score.
"The guys were a little tired,' Kim said. "Overall it wasn't our best meet. We had a few too many falls. It was a little longer meet so the kids had a little trouble cooling for their sets. But we finished up nicely with our last two events."