Scouting area boys gymnastics sectionals
Wheaton North sectional
When: 7 p.m. today
Who: Hersey, Glenbard North, Elk Grove, Highland Park (Co-op), Prospect, Rolling Meadows, Lake Park, Schaumburg, Wheaton North (Co-op)
Outlook: Elk Grove enters the sectional with some momentum from the Mid-Suburban League meet as it finished with the highest score of any East team (138.75). Grens first-year coach Keith Mukai was especially proud of his team's effort because it was missing one of its top all-arounders in Nick Alcazar (wrist injury). Giving the Grens a big boost was junior Damian Zukowski, who took the top score in the high bar (8.85). Highland Park Co-op won the Central Suburban League meet (146.10) while Wheaton Co-op captured the DuPage Valley Conference meet (153.85). Prospect (132.45) was sixth at the MSL meet followed by Schaumburg (131.20) and Rolling Meadows (130.80). Rolling Meadows' pommel horse specialist John Scallon, who will perform at the University of Minnesota next season, is one of the best in the state. The senior defended his MSL title with a 9.0 and has a personal-best 9.8. His teammate, Marc Herff (50.45), was fifth in the MSL all-around, the highest of anyone from the East. Prospect senior Jim Brault (48.40) was eighth while Zukowski (46.90) placed ninth. Schaumburg's Alex Lin (43.60) and Jake Mager (42.50) finished 11th and 12th, respectively.
Conant sectional
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Who: Barrington, Buffalo Grove, Conant, Hoffman Estates, Libertyville, Stevenson, Mundelein, Fremd
Outlook: All season, Conant has been on the watch list of state contenders. Now the Cougars fans get to watch their gymnasts in their own friendly confines, trying to win their ninth sectional crown and first since 1997. "We're happy to be going home," said Conant coach Paul Kim, after winning the MSL meet with a 155.95. "It's going to be exciting and we are very much looking forward to it." The Cougars are also looking forward to reaching 160, which has been a goal all season. The Cougars' season-high 159.95 was produced in a dual meet against Schaumburg. Conant took three of the top four all-around spots in the MSL meet with Anthony Crivolio (52.75), Steven Rink (51.60) and Joey Mauk (50.85) going 1-2-4 respectively. Third-place finisher Mike Abram (51.60) helps lead a Palatine team (148.00) that finished third behind MSL runner-up Fremd (148.75) by .75 of a point. Fremd and Palatine have been back and forth all season and the two teams are looking forward to giving their best performances Saturday. Fremd's Brandon Trostrud (49.05) was seventh in the all-around and he took third (9.15) on the parallel bars. The Vikings also got a boost from C.J. Patton's third-place finish (8.9) on the horse and Dave Allison's third-place (9.15) on the vault. Damian Przystal joined Abram among the top MSL all-arounder with a sixth-place finish (49.85). Barrington senior Kellen O'Connor, a multiple state qualifier in floor, got his first MSL title in the event with 9.45. Buffalo Grove's Eugene Blackmon was 10th in the all-around (45.40) while teammate Erik Balko took second on vault (9.40). Stevenson rolled to the championship of the Independent Conference meet with a 160.8 to 136.0 margin over Mundelein. Host Libertyville (124.3) placed third despite not being at full strength. Alex Hoersten (54.5) was the surprise all-around champion for the Patriots, followed by teammates Mike Wilner (8.78 average) in second and Lukasz Adamczyk (8.75 average) in third. Stevenson's season-high mark is 162.6.
Hinsdale Central sectional
When: 2 p.m. Saturday
Who: Evanston, Leyden, Glenbrook South, Hinsdale Central, Glenbrook North, Maine East, Maine South, Niles North, Niles West, New Trier
Outlook: Leyden is the only area representative in this sectional. The Eagles are coached by former Conant gymnast Jason Suchy. Leyden (134.15) placed second in the West Suburban Gold behind champion Addison Trail (141.65) and tied for the second with Downers Grove South (129.45 in league meet) in the final conference standings behind Addison Trail.