Carmel captures crown
Carmel soared to its third state title last year.
After losing only Amber Mirski, the Corsairs are hungry for more this season.
Proving they will be a force to be reckoned with, the Corsairs captured the 30th annual Al Galatte Invite at Rolling Meadows on Saturday evening with 72.2 points.
Lake Forest, which was eighth at last season's state meet, took second with 68.3 points followed by Stevenson (66.475) and Schaumburg (65.75, with Prospect and Deerfield tying for fifth with 65.40.
A deep Corsairs team that returns six girls from the championship run took first in the vault (19.350), balance beam (17.10) and exercise floor (18.450) to claim their second consecutive Rolling Meadows title.
“They are all motivated at this point and they worked very so hard all summer,” said Corsairs coach Sarah Doyle. “They just want to go out and do their best again and see where it takes them.”
Each team could field only two gymnasts in each event, and the Corsairs placed seven of their eight girls in the top 10.
Junior Kristin Mirski led the charge by taking first on beam (9.3). Last year, Mirski took fifth at state in the all-around and added a fourth place on beam and third on floor.
“I was really happy with my routine,” Mirski said. “Even though we won state, we still want to work hard. We have high goals.”
Lauren Feely is new to the team this season, but the sophomore made herself right at home by hitting 9.6 on floor to take first.
“We're all motivated and the team has been great,” Feely said. “I just wanted to go out and have fun tonight.”
Sophomore Sarah Cohen-Smith, who has recovered from a hamstring injury that slowed her last season, took first on vault (9.7) and junior Jennifer Zeller (9.65) was second.
Corsairs sophomore Kari Osowski (8.6) and junior Anna Brandmeier (8.5) went 2-4 on bars.
“They're just starting,” Doyle said. “They just want to keep working and they won't be done until the state meet is over.”
Katherine McKeon took first on bars (9.15) to lead Lake Forest to second place. Sophomore Kylie Carlson, who took second on floor at state last season, was fifth on floor (9.0).
Stevenson captured the state crown in 2009, but the Patriots failed to qualify for the state meet last season after injuries derailed their chances.
Individually, the Patriots' Ali Castriano won the state beam title last season and was fourth in all-around and fifth on vault. On Saturday, junior placed third on vault (9.5).
“We're looking to be stronger this season,” Castriano said. “I'm really looking forward to this season, I just need to keep gaining confidence every meet.”
Patriots junior Theresa Wojton added a third place on floor (9.15) and Riley Trebilco was seventh on beam (8.375).
The Patriots are also optimistic about the return of senior all-arounder Caitlin Pagano, who is hoping to come back in early January from elbow surgery.
“By the end of the season I think we'll be a force to be reckoned with,” said Patriots coach Judy Harwood, “I feel we have the talent.”
Schaumburg senior Brooke Shimon was second on beam (8.9) and junior Ashley Miller took seventh on floor (8.9).
“This year we have to come in with a mind-set that we can do well and we should do well,” said Shimon, whose Saxons opened the season with a solid 142.6 on Tuesday night. “We have a lot of potential and now it's just putting it out there.”
Prospect sophomore Maggie Kania was fourth on beam (8.6), freshman Gianna Scala sixth on floor (8.95) and senior Sarah Pekar tied for 10th on bars (8.2).
Barrington finished eighth as senior Lexi Marsella placed fourth on vault (9.4) and junior Tori Brunet tied for eighth (8.7). Freshman Brooke Morgan tied for fifth on bars (8.3).
“This year the girls want to get higher scores, coming in and wanting it is great,” Marsella said. “We know we can do it and it is a completely different mind-set.”
Fremd's junior varsity squad made an impressive ninth-place showing with sophomore Mary Smaga taking third on bars (8.6) and Janelle Schieder adding ninth on the beam (8.325).
“We just went out there and did our best,” Smaga said. “I had a pretty solid routine, except for hitting my feet on the floor once. It was a good night.”
Rolling Meadows was 10th as Lauren Cerza tied for fifth on bars (8.3).
Conant freshman Brie Bibel was fifth on vault (9.3), Sarah Starzynski sixth on beam (8.4) and Meicie Bennett ninth on floor (8.7).
“I was nervous at first but the team has made me feel really comfortable,” Bibel said.
Elk Grove's Emily Hennessy tied for fifth on bars (8.3) and Lake Park's Alexis Virella took sixth on vault.