Glenbard North’s skill set shows
Nothing against the four other teams in Monday’s Glenbard North girls gymnastics regional, but they’re simply nowhere near the same skill level as the host Panthers.
Glenbard North had averaged a 143 and change during its previous three meets while none of Monday’s competitors had reached a 135 a single time all season.
There were few surprises in Carol Stream as the Panthers punched their ticket to the Glenbard North sectional on Feb. 8 with a 142.50, easily besting runner-up York’s 130.775. Glenbard East was third with a 129.8 was and followed by Morton’s 114.025 and Leyden’s 111.825.
“I’m good with it,” Glenbard North coach Lindsay Schultz said. “Beam was a disaster tonight but it was good on Friday (at DVC) so now we have a week to figure that out again and hopefully can go 4-for-4 at sectionals.”
While senior Amanda Quinn is undoubtedly the Panthers’ top gymnast, it was fellow senior Melissa Colao who appeared to get the Panthers on track after a bit of a slow start.
Colao drew a loud ovation after executing a picturesque bars routine to earn a second-place 9.125 and Quinn kept the momentum going forward, winning the event with a 9.475.
“My teammates before me really pumped me up,” Colao said. “To stick it during regionals was amazing.”
The Panthers proceeded to beam, where their first two gymnasts combined for an uncharacteristic five falls. No worries for Colao, though. She calmly took care of business, letting her veteran experience take over, winning the event with a 9.4. Quinn followed with a 9.35, but Mariah Matesi, who won vault with a 9.4, had to count a couple falls and finished with an 8.025.
“After seeing what had happened, it kind of motivated me to pick it up from there,” Colao said. “It never matters what happened before, so you just have to focus and get your mind set on what you need to do next.”
Next was the floor exercise where the Panthers finished with a bang. Sophomore JV call-up Stephanie Zahaitis got the Panthers started with an inspired 8.750 and Anna Slater (8.95), Colao (9.4) Mariah Matesi (9.6) and Quinn (9.7) sealed the deal as the Panthers claimed the top four spots.
“We had sat around for a long time and I was even getting tired and a little worried,” Schultz said. “Stephanie started out so well and I think her enthusiasm kind of lifted the whole team.”
Quinn won the all-around title with a 37.5 and was followed by Colao (36.375) and Matesi (35.75). Specialist Liz Bierman took third on vault with an 8.750 and Adina Crawford was fifth on bars with an 8.55.
York’s Haley Cleeton advanced to sectional play with a 33.175 in the all-around. Megan Davidson will join Cleeton after earning an 8.625 on bars and 8.750 beam, as will sophomore Kelly Mordini, who scored an 8.725 on vault.
Glenbard East senior Jessica Griffin kept her final season alive, taking fourth place in the all-around with a 34.225. She also advanced on beam and floor, scoring an 8.8 respectively in each event. Also advancing for the Rams was freshman Olivia Carone who was the fifth and final automatic qualifier on vault with an 8.7.
“Jessica had one of her best meets of the season. Usually she’d hit 3-of-4, but she went 4-for-4 today,” Glenbard East coach Jessica Bugajsky said. “It’s kind of amazing for Olivia, because we saw Glenbard North beat everybody last Friday, but she just went out there and tried to get the best score possible to try to advance.”