Freshman Foster wins sectional all-around crown
Putting together a boys gymnastics team year after year that's not only competitive but among the most elite can't be easy, but that's exactly what Downers Grove North continues to do.
The Trojans advanced to the IHSA state finals for the fourth consecutive year by winning Friday night's Downers Grove North sectional with a 153.1. Addison Trail was a distant second with a 142.1 and York took third with a 137.1.
Addison Trail remains alive for the final at-large team qualifier, but with a few high-scoring teams remaining in the final two sectionals, it's unlikely the Blazers will advance as a team.
One gymnast who will be going is freshman phenom Matt Foster, who won the all-around with a 55.2, the highest all-around total through the first three sectionals. Foster won the floor exercise with a 9.65, still rings with an 8.95 and tied Willowbrook's Nikko Winstead on pommel horse with a 9.65. Also advancing for the Blazers was Dan Smith, who tied for fourth on vault with a 9.1
York's Caleb Strejc took second in the all-around a 55. He also advanced in all six events, including parallel bars, which he won with a 9.45. Also moving on to Frankfort for the Dukes is Nick Criel in the floor exercise.
Glenbard East took fourth place with a 132.2. While the Rams didn't score as high as they would've liked, it was a solid ending to arguably the school's best season in 20 years.
"The team really learned a lot of skills this season," Glenbard East coach Lee Wood said. "This is one of the highest scoring teams the school has had since 1990. We got up all the way to 139 and it means a lot to be among the top 15-20 schools this season."
The Rams were led by Kirk Jackson, who took third in the all-around and continued his season in every event except for the floor exercise. He won high bar with a 9.35.
"He was a little off on floor exercise and parallel bars, and a lower score than expected on rings, but it wasn't so bad," Wood said. "It was great to see him get through."
Glenbard West took fifth place with a 129. The Hilltoppers will send at least one gymnast to the state finals as Kyle Smith took fifth place on parallel bars with an 8.7.
Willowbrook took sixth place with a 122.8. In addition to tying for first place on pommel horse, Winstead finished in the top five on vault, high bar and the floor exercise.
St. Francis freshman Kevin Purdom had a fine debut in the state series, placing sixth in the all-around with a 51.3 and winning vault with a 9.4. He also advanced on parallel bars and high bar.
West Aurora's Doug Sullivan will make his second straight state appearance. The sophomore advanced on still rings with an 8.15 and took eighth in the all-around with a 48.35. Teammate Alec Sander scored a 43 in the all-around.
Luke Schubert led the way for Downers Grove North, placing fifth in the all-around with a 52.7. Schubert took second on still rings with an 8.6 and tied for third on parallel bars with an 8.9. He added an 8.5 on pommel horse, 8.6 on still rings and 9.3 in the floor exercise.
"The guys work hard in the gym and the long-term goal is to make state every year," Downers Grove North coach Al Bekkedal said. "It's a relief that they did it again and their hard work paid off."
Other notable contributions for the Trojans came from Luke Wychocki, Joe Barton and John Schubert. Wychocki tied for third in the floor exercise with a 9.35 and scored an 8.7 on high bar, Barton took fifth on still rings with a 7.95 and John Schubert took eighth on high bar with an 8.4.
"Luke Schubert, Luke Wychocki, Matt Rakow and John Schubert all had very good meets," Bekkedal said. "Lee Walter has improved, Joe Barton on rings was one of the top five and has improved quite a bit and Jake Tygesen threw a good vault for us."