It's worth the wait for Glenbard West
It took nearly four hours, but the Glenbard West girls gymnastics team lasted long into the evening to beat Naperville Central, 142.7 to 132.85.
Individuals from Plainfield North, Romeoville and Yorkville also competed in the unconventional team dual meet.
Juniors did the brunt of the work to lead the Hilltoppers to victory. Nicole Pagor led the way, winning the meet with an all-around total of 35.7. Shauna Gialliusi, who was competing as an all-arounder for the first time since her debut meet as a freshman, scored a 34.7, and Missy Guzman had a 34.65.
“We've been off for a week and a half so it was nice to just get out there and compete and get some of the rust off,” Glenbard West coach Carlos Fuentes said. “We had some solid events and we're really working on getting the kinks out of the added difficulty, so we'll take some lumps now so we're ready by the end of the year.”
Guzman's 9.5 on the floor exercise was the top score of the night, but it didn't leave her completely satisfied.
“Scoring always changes and I just go out there and try to be as clean as I can, and I wasn't,” she said.
Fuentes stresses that it's the quality of the routine that matters, rather than the score right now. Still, the Hilltoppers posted several scores that didn't go unnoticed.
Pagor had a 9.4 in the floor exercise and a 9.35 on vault, Becky Mladucky led the team on beam with an 8.75 and on bars with a 9.2, Abbie Garchitorena had a 9.15 on vault and Shannon Dietz had a team-best 9.4 on vault.
“Some of the girls worked new floor passes and Abbie did really well there,” Fuentes said. “Almost all our bar routines are 100 percent new so that's nice. Vault's coming along and then beam's always a work in progress, so we're definitely working toward peaking at the right time of year.”
Naperville Central didn't have time to fit in a practice after competing in the Big Purple Invite on Saturday. Still, the Redhawks opened their new gymnastics facility in fine fashion with a 132.85.
“Another good meet for us and it's been a nice start for the team,” Naperville Central coach Glen Reimers said. “I was really happy with floor (35.65). It was Brittany (Mitchell's) first time on floor and Grace (Ellis) worked a pass she missed (on Saturday).”
Claire Savard led the Redhawks on vault with a 9.05, Logan Hassler had a team-best 7.9 on bars and senior Kendall Hassler paced the team on beam with an 8.55, floor with a 9.1 and in the all-around with a 33.3. Grace Ellis added a 9.05 in the floor exercise and Vanessa Henry scored a 32.95 in the all-around.