It all adds up in Stevenson’s favor

Superlative depth has made for a superior improvement with Stevenson’s girls gymnastics team.

“All year long they have been working hard and making a big difference for this team,” Stevenson coach Judy Harwood said. “I’ve talked to them about making their scores count.”

Those scores added up Monday, as the Patriots counting efforts from Carlie Dobkin, Becca Feldman-Frank and Riley Treblico as Stevenson produced a state-best 151.55 on Monday night. Palatine finished second at 143.55.

The Patriots won their own regional for the 17th straight year and earned a spot in the sectional to hosted by Stevenson Monday.

“That’s the difference from good teams and bad teams — depth does make a difference,” Harwood said. “It’s a long season, and if someone turns an ankle, if you don’t have any depth then the stars will be exhausted by the end of the season.

“I feel like that’s the big key with 10 (girls) on our team working together.”

Patriots senior Ali Castriano also posted a career best in the all-around (38.5) and took top honors on beam (9.725), vault (9.625) and floor (9.6), with a second on bars (9.55).

“Didn’t expect it in regionals, because it’s the first state series meet,” said Castriano of her all-around score.

Feldman-Frank made both her events count, taking fourth on bars (9.375) and tying for fourth with teammate Theresa Wojton on vault (9.25).

“Because I’m contributing in the events, I know that every score counts,” said Feldman-Frank, a sophomore. “We’ve been doing a lot of repetitions (on bars) in practice and that’s made a difference.”

Dobkin was fifth in all-around (36.55), placed second on vault (9.325), fourth on floor (9.3) and fifth on bars (9.175). Treblico finished second on floor (9.425) and fourth on beam (9.575).

Caitlin Pagano was second in the all-around (37.55) and Wojton third (37.425) for Stevenson,

Pagano won bars (9.625), took third on floor (9.325) and fifth on beam (9.5). Wojton was second on beam (9.7) and third on bars (9.4).

Palatine also posted its highest score of the season.

“We’re peaking at the right time,” Palatine coach Terry Theobald. “We tried a couple of new things and it was all good. Hopefully, it gets us through (to sectional as an at-large qualifier) — it will be close.”

Palatine’s Abigal Alden placed fourth in the all-around (36.6) and fifth on floor (9.1). Teammate Nicole Kuksuk earned thirds on beam (9.6) and vault (9.275).

“It’s a little intimidating coming over here,” said Kuksuk, a sophomore. “But the rest of the team was able to help me out.”