Carmel right on track at regional

It’s been a little less than a month since Carmel Catholic’s girls gymnastics team set a school record of 153.725.

The two-time defending state champion Corsairs threatened that mark in opening up the state series Thursday as they were able to go 20-for-20 in hitting their routines.

Carmel won the Deerfield regional easily with a 153.225. Deerfield finished second (134.275), followed by Vernon Hills (129.275), Maine West (120.025) and Highland Park (110.875).

“Our top girls may get more of the focus,” said Carmel coach Sarah Doyle, “but what makes this team special is that everybody contributes. It’s a very special group. You just don’t get this very often.”

Carmel was led by all-arounders Lauren Feeley (38.6), Kristin Mirski (38.425) and Jen Zeller (38.125). They took the top three spots.

“Just like our meet early in January, we still have things to fix up,” Doyle said. “That’s the way they feel. They’re allowed to have fun and enjoy what they did here. But they nkow there’s still more that’s ahead of them. This sets us up for a path to the state meet.”

Feeley also won top honors on both vault (9.8) and beam (9.6) and took second on bars (9.525) and third on floor (9.675).

Mirski captured the top spot on floor (9.8), placed second on vault (9.7) and claimed third on bars (9.475) and beam (9.45).

Zeller finished first on bars (9.625), second on floor (9.7) and fifth on beam (9.35) and vault (9.45).

“’I’ve always known my bars set can be clean,” Zeller said. “I was doing like everybody else, trying to go through our routines.

“Our team is really focused and trying to do everything possible. We’re working harder and harder.”

Sarah Cohen-Smith picked up second on beam (9.5) and fourth on vault (9.625).

Anna Brandmeier returned from a stress fracture in her wrist to tie for fourth on floor with Alli Tran of Vernon Hills at 9.525 and placed fifth on bars (9.425).

“I did a lot conditioning,” said Brandmeier, who was out for three weeks. “I was able to do 3 events. I thought I did pretty well on the floor. I came back pretty fast and was able to handle it.”

Tran was fourth in the all-around (38.025) and placed third on vault (9.625), fourth on bars (9.45) and fourth on beam (9.4).

“I was nervous coming in,” Tran said. “I’m more excited about state and want to do well there. I came in wanting to hit in all four events — which I did. Now I can look forward to the sectional next week.”

Deerfield’s Christine Stitcher finished fifth in the all-around (36.6).

Maine West’s Michelle Madalinski competed in two events, taking sixth on beam (9.325) and eighth on bars (8.6). The Warriors’ Natasha Tsinonis had an (8.6) on beam. Both gymnasts will be looking for at-large berths after the final regional Friday at New Trier for the Niles North sectional next Thursday.