Glenbard North’s Quinn improves to eighth on bars

Glenbard North’s Amanda Quinn set the tone early on the uneven parallel bars during Saturday’s girls gymnastics championships at Palatine.

Quinn was the first of 10 gymnasts to compete on the bars and finished with a 9.425 for eighth place. She had a 9.325 on Friday, finishing in 10th place and barely advancing to the finals.

She wasn’t the only one to shine on the event though as Prairie Ridge co-op’s Jenny Covers and DeKalb’s Jessica Morreale posted back-to-back scores of 9.85 and 9.75 to finish first and second.

“I was a little nervous going first, but hitting it felt really good and set the stage for everyone else,” Quinn said. “I thought it was one of my best bar routines all year so it was good to end on that.”

Unfortunately, Quinn didn’t fare as well on beam. The junior had a fall and settled for an 8.55. She had posted the ninth best score on Friday with a 9.15.

“My mind just got a little distracted,” Quinn said. “So I made a mistake which happens sometimes.”

It was Quinn’s first appearance in the state finals as the junior was competing on the high school team for the first time this year, having made the transition from club.

“This was a really good experience for me,” she said. “It was beyond my goals. I didn’t expect to make it here, so it was a nice surprise and I was just thankful to be here.”

Glenbard West senior Becky Mladucky was the only other gymnast from the DuPage area to advance to Saturday’s finals. Usually as reliable as the mailman, Mladucky had an uncharacteristic error during her routine.

She placed ninth with a 8.975, having followed the large roar of the crowd after Covers and Morreale’s eye-popping routines.

“I think my nerves got to me. I wanted to do well and tried my hardest but it didn’t happen like I wanted it to,” Mladucky said. “This is something so little compared to the whole season. I’m just happy that it worked out for me to be here.”

Prairie Ridge co-op’s Jenny Covers won vault and bars with matching scores of 9.85. Carmel’s Lauren Feely won beam with a 9.7 and teammate Kristin Mirski won floor with a 9.775.

Carmel also claimed it’s second straight team championship with a final score of 149.450. Glenbard West didn’t advance its score and remained in seventh place with a 144.65. Hinsdale Central placed fifth in the team standings with a 146.675.