Glenbard West 7th after prelims

The Glenbard West girls gymnastics team was in seventh place after Friday night’s preliminary round in the state finals at Palatine High School.

The Hilltoppers finished with a score of 144.650.

Carmel leads Lake Forest, 148.875 to 147.875, followed by Schaumburg’s 147.350, Stevenson’s 146.7, Hinsdale Central’s 146.675 and Fremd’s 145.525.

Becky Mladucky tied for fifth place on uneven bars with a 9.425 and will compete on Saturday for a state title. She was the lone Hilltoppers gymnast to advance.

“We hit a lot of routines, more so than I thought,” Glenbard West coach Carlos Fuentes said. “We didn’t have to count a single fall anywhere, and scoring is always tight at the state meet. It was nice for the seniors to come out and finish their senior year in the state meet.”

Meggan Brennan had a 9.375 on vault, Shannon Dietz added a 9.075 on bars, Mladucky posted a 9.1 on beam and junior Missy Guzman’s strong contributions included a 9.3 on vault and 9.25 on floor.

Glenbard North junior Amanda Quinn placed sixth in the all-around with a 37.225. Quinn advanced to Saturday’s finals on beam with a 9.150 and bars with a 9.325, as she secured the final spot.

Waubonsie Valley/Metea Valley co-op was represented by three gymnasts, all who were making their debut in the state meet. Freshman Jordyn Penny took 30th in the all-around with a 35.7, sophomore Elizabeth Brandenburg tied for 27th on floor with a 9.05 and junior Maddie Strick narrowly missed advancing to the finals on bars, placing 12th with a 9.225.

“They did awesome, all three of them did, for their first time coming to state,” Waubonsie Valley/Metea Valley coach Nicole Daly said. “And Maddie was awesome. She had one of her highest scores of the season and that’s with the pressure and the toughest judging in the state.”

Lake Park’s Jessica Lewis competed on floor and posted an 8.85 while Fenton freshman Taylor Patton also saw action on floor, and scored an 8.675.

Geneva sophomore Ashley Puff made her state debut and took 21st on floor with a 9.2. Teammate and senior Emily Ott had a stumble on her first pass on floor which cost her a bit, so she settled for 27th place with a 9.050 in her final career meet.

“It wasn’t my best day, but I still had a lot of fun,” Ott said. “These things happen sometimes but it was another great experience coming here.”