Buffalo Grove shines at District 214 meet

Buffalo Grove’s David Kavelerchik put together his best meet of his career at the District 214 boys gymnastics invitational Monday at Buffalo Grove.

The junior won three events along with the all-around while leading the Bison to a season-best 131.50.

“It felt pretty good out there,” said Kavelerchik, who won the all-around with a 46.95, the still rings with an 8.65, the parallel bars with an 8.80 and the high bars with a 7.60. “I focused a lot out there, especially on p-bars. The goal is to be clean out there and except for pommels, I was.”

BG’s Nick Balko knew there was something different when he completed his Tuck-Tsuk vault. But for Balko it was a good different, because for the first time all year, Balko landed on his feet.

Balko was rewarded for his success with an 8.80 to give him a first-place finish in the event.

“We goofed around with that vault last year,” BG coach Chris Stevens said. “He has been able to hit in practice, but not in a meet. That hard work paid off tonight.”

The Bison were able to put together their best meet of the year despite not having Julian Vasquez (bruised heel).

“It was a very good meet for us,” Stevens said. “I always go through a meet and didn’t think we did well. I love being wrong.”

Prospect’s Tim Pappas also has a first. Pappas nailed his first pass on the floor and his double-twisting backflip to win with a 9.20.

“I worked on my floor all summer,” Pappas said. “It is my favorite event.”

Pappas, along with Chris Klein, who was second in the all-around, Matt Muniz, Ringo Larock and Matt Horn helped Prospect to a second-place finish with a 127.55

“We did pretty well, but we still have some things to work on,” Prospect coach Randy Smith said. “Our high bar needs some work. And that is strange, because when I competed and my assistants competed, it was our best event.”

Hersey struggled a bit to finish just behind Prospect with a 127.45.

“We had some rough spots,” Hersey coach Mason Vernon said. “Our kids just need to relax out there.”

Hersey had uncharacteristic falls on the floor and the vault. Still, Thomas Reynolds, David Jackowski, Dan Urban, Jordan Graff, Grant Manno and Alex Barratta had top-five finishes.

Matt Crigler and Sam Friedman led Rolling Meadows to its best score of the season with a 113.75.

“It was beautiful,” Meadows coach Mike Costa said. “This is by far our best meet. The boys have been getting better and better for us.”

Kenji Fukuda put together his cleanest performance of the year in the pommel horse. His score of 8.60 highlighted Elk Grove’s 110.25.

“This was the first time I got everything to work,” Fukuda said. “It was a good rhythm out there.”