Feely really excels, as does Carmel
Lauren Feely started fast — and the Carmel junior finished even faster.
Feely, the top returning all-around gymnast in state after finishing fourth last season, put on a dazzling performance in leading the Corsairs on Saturday in the 33rd annual Conant Invitational held at Schaumburg.
Feely took first in the all-around (38.750), propelling the two-time defending state champions to an impressive victory with 113.825 points.
Lake Forest, the state runner-up last season, hung tough the entire meet and took second with 110.85 points, followed by Glenbard West (105.35), Schaumburg (103.050), and Conant (101.75).
Four gymnasts from each team competed in each event, with the top three scores counting in the 11-team field.
Feely started the day with a second-place finish on the bars (9.55). She ended it by taking first on the beam (9.6), floor (9.8) and vault (9.8).
“I don’t think about all the events, I just take them one at a time,” said Feely of her stunning performance. “I think about my skills and try to focus on myself. It’s nice to see the scores and it gives me a nice boost of confidence.”
Feely was clean on the floor and then used a full twisting Yurchenko on the vault to put an exclamation point on the day.
“It’s been out of the park this year,” said Carmel coach Sarah Doyle of Feely’s vault. “She’s really improved her skills on every event and she is attacking. She just looks like a more confident gymnast out there.”
But Carmel was far from a one-gymnast show. Senior Kristin Mirski took second in the all-around (38.175), added second-place finishes on the vault (9.65) and beam (9.5), a third on the bars (9.5) and a fourth on the floor (9.525).
Carmel finished first in all four events as a team, but dominated the final two events on the floor and vault. The Corsairs swept the top four spots on the vault, scoring 29 points. They had four of the top five spots on the floor, hitting 28.975 points.
Junior Sarah Cohen-Smith took third on the vault (9.55); Senior Jen Zeller took fourth on the vault (9.5) and fifth on the floor (9.5), with senior Anna Brandmeier taking third on the floor (9.65) and sixth on the bars (9.1) in a dominanting team performance.
“I think all of us can be top all-arounders,” said Mirski. “Going into the last two events (floor and vault) we like to have fun. We’re confident and we have a strong team to finish it up.”
Lake Forest stayed close, with juniors Kat McKeon (37.20), Kylie Carlson (37.0), and Brittany Moccia (36.5) going 3-4-5 in the all-around.
Carlson finished second on the floor (9.75) and took fifth on the bars (9.15), with McKeon adding a fourth on the bars (9.45).
“After finishing second in state last season, we’re really excited about this season,” said Carlson, who finished second at state individually on the floor.
“Everyone performed really well today and we definitely have a lot of potential this season,” McKeon said.
Glenbard West has qualified for the state meet for two consecutive years, and with a senior-heavy team the Hilltoppers are looking to continue that success this year.
Senior Missy Guzman led the Hilltoppers by taking sixth on the beam (9.025).
“I think we definitely have the potential to qualify again this season,” said Guzman. “Having the experience helps.”
Senior Nicole Pagor (12th on bars), senior Shauna Gialluisi (10th on floor) and junior Abbie Garchitorena (11th on vault) also added to Glenbard West’s optimism.
“The seniors are really motivated to make it to state three years in a row,” said Glenbard West coach Carlos Fuentes. “They want to finish well.”
Junior Erin Barrett took fourth on the beam (9.10) to lead Schaumburg; the Saxons junior also was strong on the floor (8.75) and bars (8.9).
“Beam was pretty strong for us,” said Barrett, who helped the Saxons place third overall on the beam with 26.05 points. “The younger girls are coming along good and are adding new skills.”
Conant was without the services of top all-arounder Brie Bibel, who was out with a back injury, but junior Sarah Starzynski and sophomore Meicie Bennett helped push the host Cougars to a fifth-place finish.
Starzynski looked strong on the floor (9.0), vault (9.0) and beam (8.95), with Bennett supporting on floor (9.05) and bars (8.7).
“Having Brie out was big, but all the girls were willing to take her spot,” said Starzynski of the Cougars effort. “We just have to get everyone healthy and I think we’ll be fine.”
Vernon Hills junior Alli Tran had a hiccup on the beam, but was sterling on the other three events.
Tran took first on the bars (9.6) and fifth on the vault (9.45), and also added a solid floor (9.2).
“I’m more driven this year,” said Tran, who finished sixth on the bars last season at state. “That has given me more motivation for this year. This year I know more of what I’m capable of doing.”
Emily Cook tied for 11th on the vault (9.10), leading Wheaton Co-op to a sixth-place finish.
Kaitlyn Neiheisel took third on the beam (9.25) to lead Lincoln-Way East to an eighth-place finish.