Glenbard North toughs out DVC win
Despite losing Karli Gaines in its season-opening meet, the Glenbard North girls gymnastics team has found a way to not just win, but win often.
During Friday’s DuPage Valley Conference meet at Wheaton Warrenville South, the Panthers once again had to overcome injuries. Erin Panhorst was limited to participating only on beam, and Mariah Matesi gritted her way through a badly sprained ankle to help the Panthers holds off a surging Wheaton Warrenville co-op squad, 141 to 139.875.
Naperville Central took a distant third with a 133.825, followed by Naperville North’s 130.075 and Glenbard East’s 129.075.
“We needed to pull together on beam at the end because we weren’t doing so well,” Glenbard North coach Lindsay Schultz said. “I wasn’t going to tell them that before we went on beam, so I told them to just pull together and beam was good compared to other events.”
The Panthers only had four gymnasts compete on floor, had to count some falls and were informed that one of standout Amanda Quinn’s gym acro skills isn’t technically in the book. Still, the Panthers were able to prevail with Quinn leading the way, winning the all-around with a 37.25 while also netting the top scores on vault, bars and floor.
Matesi added a strong finish on beam, winning with a 9.55 after Quinn had to overcome a fall.
“I don’t know what it was today,” Schultz said. “It’s the end of the week so maybe it’s that or the focus was on regional? They didn’t channel together as a team like they normally do. I don’t know if it was nervousness. They just didn’t jell.”
Matesi took fifth in the all-around with a 35.25, Adine Crawford was third on bars with an 8.725 and Melissa Colas was fourth on floor with an 8.7 for the Panthers.
Wheaton Warrenville co-op’s Sarah Deicke, Emily Cook and Audrey Channon finished 2-3-4 in the all-around to help the team snag second place.
“We were so close to Glenbard North so I think it’ll give us confidence going into regionals against a tough DeKalb team,” Deicke said. “We’re still perfecting our routines, and there was some new stuff we just added today.”
While the Panthers didn’t have anywhere near their best finish of the season, Wheaton Warrenville certainly came close.
“This was our second-best meet of the season,” Wheaton Warrenville coach Maureen Latimer said. “I think the closeness (to Glenbard North) will help the girls for regionals.”
Naperville Central’s Jessie Cruse took third on floor with an 8.85 to pace the Redhawks.
“I was thinking about 137,” Naperville Central coach Glen Reimers said. “That was my expectation.”
Despite falling short the Redhawks will look to regroup before traveling to the Lyons Twp. regional next Friday.
Naperville North’s Michaela Robert took sixth in the all-around with a 34.9. Emma Slinkman led Glenbard East with a 32.