Tough night for Glenbard North
The Glenbard North girls gymnastics team was looking to finish its season by hitting as many routines as possible during Friday's IHSA girls gymnastics state finals in Palatine.
The Panthers encountered a night when chunks of their performances were mistake-ridden and caused them to close the evening in seventh place with 143.45 points. Carmel likely will claim its third straight championship Saturday; it has a comfortable lead over Stevenson, 150.925-148.825.
“We were excited to be here but frustrated and disappointed because we wish we would've finished better,” Glenbard North coach Lindsay Schultz said. “Floor is a really good event for us, and we had two falls. Then beam, which when we hit is good, but we didn't, and I think we got a little deflated after beam.”
The Panthers only registered a 33.925 on beam despite tackling the apparatus with confidence during recent practices and warmups.
“The girls weren't freaking out or anything. I mean they were confident,” Schultz said. “You want to go big to end the year, and I don't think we had one meet this year where in all four events we went out and peaked. During practice everything was looking good.”
Amanda Quinn had a rare fall on floor, so she didn't qualify for Saturday's championship finals on floor, but she did qualify on bars with a 9.525.
Also earning an opportunity to perform another routine this season is Mariah Matesi, sixth on floor for the Panthers with a 9.55.
“I'm grateful that we made it here because we worked so hard,” Matesi said. “It wasn't our best meet. Sometimes you have good days and sometimes you have bad days, unfortunately, but I'm still happy.”
The only other DuPage County gymnasts to advance were York's Meghan Davidson, eighth on beam with a 9.3, and Hinsdale Central's Erin Morgan, ninth on beam with a 9.275.
Just missing out on beam was Glenbard West senior Missy Guzman, 11th with a 9.175.
“I didn't think of it as my last meet, but I think it finally hit me on beam,” she said. “I just thought of today as one more chance to do what I always do and what I love to do.”
Guzman went out with style, hitting all four events and posting the 16th highest all-around score with a 36.825.
“She just missed finals on beam, but what a way to go out as a senior,” Glenbard West coach Carlos Fuentes said. “She's the only Glenbard West gymnast to ever make it to state all four years, and with all the great kids we've had that says a lot about her longevity.”
Several other gymnasts from the area also made appearances on Friday. In fact Waubonsie Valley/Metea Valley co-op's Maddie Strick almost moved on to the finals on bars, scoring a 9.3 while the cutoff ended up being 9.325.
Naperville North freshman Michaela Robert had a 34.65 in the all-around, and Kaitlyn Daly scored a 9.45 on vault.
Waubonsie Valley/Metea Valley's Jess Malon had an 8.8 on vault and Elizabeth Brandenburg scored an 8.7 on floor and 9.25 on vault.
Wheaton Warrenville co-op's Audrey Channon was 17th on beam with a 9.075 while senior Sarah Deicke posted an 8.95 on beam.