Prairie Ridge co-op asserts itself at Schaumburg
Prairie Ridge Co-op wasted little time in taking command of the Schaumburg girls gymnastics regional on Monday night.
Prairie Ridge took the top three spots in the opening vault, and then kept rolling straight to the regional title with an impressive 147.35 points.
Host Schaumburg took second with 135.825 points, followed by Hersey (127.20 points).
Freshman Rachel Underwood (37.325), freshman Riley Mahoney (37.175), and senior Nikki Novak (36.775) went 1-2-3 in the all-around to lead a dominant attack by Prairie Ridge.
The only blemish for PR was the meet-ending beam, where it recorded 3 falls.
Prairie Ridge advances to the Lake Park sectional in Roselle at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 7.
“The kids know what they are capable of doing,” said Prairie Ridge coach Lee Bataglia, whose team hit a season-best score. “If we had done our normal beam we would have been knocking at a 149 or 150.”
Maloney and Underwood, who both attend Cary-Grove high school, set the tone for Prairie Ridge.
Maloney took first on the vault (9.625), bars (9.575), and floor (9.5) before stumbling a bit on the beam (8.475).
Underwood took second on the vault (9.55), bars (9.525), and floor (9.35), adding a fourth-place finish on the beam (8.9).
Novak took second on the beam (9.05) and added third-place finishes on vault (9.525) and floor (9.25). Junior Savanna Mensching took first for PR on the beam (9.075).
“We know we have some work on the beam,” said Underwood, “but overall we had a good night and we still haven’t reached our full potential.”
Senior Jordyn Madden and junior Abby Madden once again powered St. Edward. The Green Wave sister duo has plenty of state experience and it showed on Monday night.
Abby (36.25) and Jordyn (35.625) went 4-5 in the all-around to propel the Green Wave.
“We haven’t really changed too many skills, it has been the same,” said Abby, who also had a third-place finish on bars (9.425), a fourth-place finish on vault (9.475) and a fifth-place finish on floor (9.0). “It’s just about nailing it.”
Jordyn is ready for a big finish after qualifying for the state meet the past three years. The Green Wave senior took fourth on the bars (9.10) and fifth on the vault (9.35).
“This year I just want to have fun,” said Jordyn. “The past three years I’ve been stressing out, but this being my last year I just want to go out and do my best.”
Last year Schaumburg capped its season with a third-place trophy, but after losing three of it top gymnasts, the Saxons were in a bit of a rebuilding mode this year.
Junior Erin Barrett paced the Saxons on Monday by taking third on the beam (8.925). Freshman Tarah Schomer also stepped up by hitting big on the vault (9.0).
“I think everyone is starting to realize it’s about the team,” said Barrett. “The freshmen weren’t too sure coming in, but I think they get it now.”
Sophomore Hannah Bovino and sophomore Annie Johnson lifted a young Hersey squad.
Bovino took fifth on bars (9.05) and beam (8.825), with Johnson adding a fourth-place finish on floor (9.025).
Bovino missed last year’s postseason with an injury, but she made the most of her chance this season.
“I had really good warm-ups and I felt strong,” said Bovino of her opening bars routine. “It felt really great to be able to compete and I wanted to do my best.”