No winners, but Conant takes Addison Trail championship
Conant was easily the top team at Saturday’s Fred Dennis Invite at Addison Trail.
The Cougars didn’t have any gymnasts win any of the six events, but the Cougars finished well ahead of runner-up Addison Trail, 140.7-130.85.
“We had a pretty good meet, although we’re still struggling on rings and our pommels weren’t the best,” Conant coach Paul Kim said. “But it was good to see them win the tournament. They are coming along.”
Steven Rink led the Cougars, placed second in the all-around with a 49.75. Rink finished third on floor, pommel horse and high bar. Tommy Palm contributed a second-place finish on floor with a 9.4 and Brian Reedy was fourth on pommel horse with a 7.5 and fifth on high bar with a 7.4. Reedy also placed fourth in the all-around with a 44.55.
Host Addison Trail had three top-five placers. Humberto Aguilar was third on still rings with a 7.4, Joey Haynes was fourth on high bar with an 8.0 and Dan Smith was fifth on vault with a 9.1.
“This is the third time we’ve gotten a 130,” Addison Trail coach Mike Galfi said. “This is a group that’s solely developed through high school, and they’re now starting to see some of the results of hard work paying off.”
Hersey’s Ryan Bruekert won parallel bars with an 8.6 and Evan Reynolds won still rings with an 8.5 to help the Huskies take third place with a 127.975.
“This was big for us to finish third as a team. It’s good to see the team have success,” Reynolds said. “This was the first time we’ve won a team award so that was good to see.”
Glenbard North took fourth with a 122.350 as Ryan Kennedy won the all-around with a 52.0.
“Today didn’t go as well as I would’ve liked,” he said. “I did have a new finish pass on floor that I was happy with.”
Fenton edged Lake Park, 121.950-121.850 for fifth place. The Bison’s thought quickly turned to gymnast Eric Owusu, who was injured on high bar and taken away in an ambulance. Owusu placed second on vault with a 9.25 earlier in the the invite.
Lake Park’s Mac Allen was third on parallel bars with an 8.25, and Sam Flory was fifth in the all-around with a 41.8.
“Sam had his best meet,” Lake Park coach Keith Matune said. “He’s doing great things and our young core picked it up and had a nice meet.”
Glenbard East’s Sonny Serrano took second on still rings with a 7.6 and Robo Sullivan won vault with a 9.3.
“It’s the first time I’ve finished first in an invite, so it’s exciting for me being a senior,” Sullivan said. “I didn’t realize I’d get first, but figured I’d be in the mix of the top five.”
Another Sullivan, West Aurora junior Doug Sullivan, won pommel horse with a 9.1 and was third in the all-around with a 49.250.
“I had a broken finger, but have been feeling good most of the season,” he said. “I’m just trying to get ready for regionals for club. Things went all right, but I’m till trying to get where I want to be.”