Sweet finish nets regional title for Kuksuk, Palatine
Palatine junior Nicole Kuksuk was in control from start to finish at Friday night’s girls gymnastics regional hosted by the Pirates.
The junior ended last week’s Mid-Suburban League meet on a sour note after recording a fall on the beam.
But it was all sweet on Friday as Kuksuk took first in the all-around (36.95) powering the host Pirates to the Palatine regional title with a season-best 140.85 points.
Barrington (139.575 points) led after three rotations before finishing right behind the hosts in second place, followed by Elk Grove (123.875 points) and Rolling Meadows (121.80 points).
Palatine advances to the Lake Park sectional at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, joining Prairie Ridge, Prospect and Fremd as automatic qualifiers in the team competition. Barrington and Conant also advanced by securing the two at-large bids.
Kuksuk added first-place finishes on vault (9.325) and beam (9.525), tied for first on bars (8.925) and added a second-place finish on floor (9.175) in an uplifting performance.
“This is what we needed,” said Kuksuk of her team’s performance. “I knew I had to put in the extra work this week and it paid off.”
With Barrington taking command early, Palatine responded with a solid beam and floor to overtake the Fillies in the last event.
Freshman Claudia Przystal gave the Pirates a lift by taking third on bars (8.8), fourth on the vault (9.075) and fifth in the all-around (34.975). Junior Abby Alden kept the Pirates going by tying for third on the floor (9.0), taking fourth on the beam (8.8), and going fourth in the all-around (35.075). And junior Megan Hedstrom helped out by tying for fifth on bars (8.6).
“It’s a big deal,” said Alden of Palatine’s come-from-behind triumph. “We were really focusing on trying to win.”
Barrington wasn’t very far off pace, with senior Tiffany Persels leading the charge.
The Fillies senior took first with a smooth floor routine (9.5), added a second-place finish on vault (9.225) and went third in the all-around (35.60).
Senior Marissa Krzysko gave the Fillies a lift on bars (8.925), tying for first. Senior Claire Timlin tied for fifth on bars (8.6), freshman Jessica Lee took third on the beam (8.875) and fifth on the vault (9.05) and freshman Jada Jones added a fifth-place finish on the floor (8.825).
“I’m really excited that I’ve been able to hit on floor consistently,” said Persels, who took third on the floor at the MSL meet. “It was really close all meet, but we just had few too many falls on beam.”
Elk Grove sophomore Amelia Rafferty recovered from a fall on her opening bar routine to take second in the all-around (35.85).
Rafferty took third on vault (9.175) and floor (9.0), ending her night by taking second with a flawless beam routine (9.125).
“I’ve been working hard and making my beam routine in practice,” said Rafferty. “It felt good to hit it at the meet.”
Sophomore Rachel Andersen advanced by taking fifth place with a solid beam routine (8.775) for Rolling Meadows.
“I felt pretty confident,” said Andersen of her beam. “I just want to keep hitting.”