Big finish powers Palatine

Palatine started off a bit slowly in Wednesday’s girls gymnastics season opener at Prospect — but the Pirates closed with a bang.

Palatine trailed host Prospect by 1.8 points after two events but used a strong finish on the floor and beam to post a 140.15-139.2 Mid-Suburban League crossover victory.

Junior Abby Alden and freshman Claudia Przystal tied for first in the all-around with a score 35.90 to lead the Pirates. Palatine hit a 36.55 on the floor and sealed the victory by posting a 35.5 on beam.

“I think as a team we’ve been doing really well on beam,” said Alden. “We’ve all been doing our routines and hitting them. We have a lot of potential right now and I’m looking forward to seeing how we progress.”

Alden took first on bars (9.1), third on floor (9.2) and tied Przystal for third on the vault (8.6) and beam (9.0). Przystal added a first on the floor (9.3) and took second on the bars (9.0) in an impressive debut.

Junior Nicole Kuksuk, who is coming back from a back injury, was limited to two events but made the most of it by taking first on the beam (9.2). Kuksuk was the MSL champion on the beam last season and showed no signs of rust on Wednesday.

“We’ve been working hard on beam and floor,” said Kuksuk, “We know we need the endurance for it. I think you can kind of see it is paying off.”

Junior Megan Hedstrom helped the Pirates out by taking fourth on floor (9.15).

“We are nowhere near what we are capable of doing,” said Palatine coach Terry Theobald. “It was a nice beam, it was all good.”

Prospect also had an impressive opener, with sophomore Gianna Scala leading the effort.

Last year Scala took first on the floor at the MSL meet and also was a state qualifier, and the sophomore picked up where she left off.

Scala used a Yurchenko pike in taking first on the vault (9.4); she also had an impressive routine in taking second on floor exercise (9.25).

“Overall to start off it was a good meet,” said Scala. “Once we get use to the competition we’ll get up there.”

Senior Lauren Johnson took second on beam (9.1) and also had an impressive floor exercise routine (9.1).

Freshman Maddie Larock had an impressive debut, taking second on the vault (9.0).

“We’ll take 139,” said Prospect coach Randy Smith whose team was slowed by a couple of falls on the beam. “We started off strong in two events. I don’t mind falling early in the season — you get the shakes out. We’ll be fine.”