Glenbard West continues to roll
The Glenbard West girls gymnastics team is looking to head into the postseason with momentum.
The Hilltoppers beat perennial power Glenbard North in the Distict 87 Meet last weekend and on Saturday beat West Suburban Silver rival Hinsdale Central for the first time this season.
Glenbard West also defeated the rest of the 11-team field in Saturday’s York Invitational. The Hilltoppers finished ahead of runner-up Hinsdale Central 145.375 to 144.175. Sandburg/Stagg co-op was the distant third-place finisher with a 137.4.
“We were actually coming off a couple of losses (to Hinsdale Central), the dual and the Naperville North Invite,” Glenbard West coach Carlos Fuentes said. “We were down Missy (Guzman) for those, but we don’t like to make excuses and we feel with our depth we should still be able to persevere.”
The Hilltoppers won over the crowd on beam where Megan Brennan and Becky Mladucky finished in first and second, respectively, with a 9.575 and 9.550.
“I liked the order we competed tonight. It’s like a home meet and had a nice flow to it,” Brennan said. “Two vaults to start, then to bars and then to beam, you’re in competition mode. And then it’s great to finish on floor because you get to perform.”
Guzman had to count a fall but kept her composure and finished strong on beam with an 8.850. Her effort seemingly inspired her two remaining teammates on the event.
Guzman finished fourth in the all-around with a 36.025, and Mladucky placed second in the all-around with a 36.975 to help the Hilltoppers pick up the victory. The two also tied for third on floor with a 9.1 and Mladucky took second on bars with a 9.325.
Nicole Pagor contributed a 9.225 on vault and an 8.9 on floor, Shannon Dietz posted a 9.0 on bars and Brennan’s 9.425 vault earned her a fifth-place medal.
Waubonsie Valley/Metea Valley co-op took fifth place with a 135.175 while Upstate Eight Conference rival Neuqua Valley was sixth with a 133.1.
Jordyn Penny took fourth place on floor with a 9.125 and Elizabeth Brandenburg was fifth on floor with a 9.05 for Waubonsie Valley/Metea Valley. Maddie Strick, Brandenburg and Jessica Malon all competed in the all-around for the team.
Sarah Cushing shined on beam for Neuqua Valley, placing fourth with a 9.325. She took 10th in the all-around with a 35.15. The Wildcats featured three additional all-arounders, with Jaime Butler leading the way with a 33.550, followed by Riley Wypiszenski’s 32.250 and Shaniah Lim’s 32.125.
“Sarah’s beam was awesome again and she went 4-for-4 and had a great meet tonight,” Neuqua Valley coach Christine Clark said. “Shaniah got her giants back on bars, Jaime flipped her vault today which had been a roadblock, and now if we could just get Morgan (Knight) back (from injury).”
Conant’s Brie Bibel took fourth place on vault a 9.450 on vault and sixth place in the all-around with a 35.575 to lead her team.
Naperville North took 10th place with a 128.325. All-arounders Kate Noreen posted a 32.7 and Hope Turner added a 32.6 to lead the Huskies.
“We’re doing OK. We’re still trying to get some consistency and put things together,” Naperville North coach Chris Stanicek said. “We keep adding skills to elevate routines, but with the new skills we need consistency, and we’re getting there, but we’re not there yet.”