Wheaton advances easily
Danny Heller’s back isn’t 100 percent healthy right now, but it didn’t keep the Wheaton co-op boys gymnastics team from advancing back to next weekend’s IHSA state finals at Lincoln-Way East in Frankfort.
Heller was restricted to just two events during Wednesday’s Wheaton Warrenville South sectional, but he made the most of his limited opportunities, winning pommel horse with a 9.15 and tying for third on high bar with teammate Mark Ciesielski with an 8.7.
Wheaton cruised to victory, easily finishing ahead of runner-up Lake Park, 158 to 141.3.
“We really wanted to make sure I could stay as healthy as I could to be able to contribute to the team during state,” Heller said. “I powered through my routine (on pommel horse) and felt very good about that. We had a couple bumps as a team, but overall we were really happy.”
Ethan Sansone led the way for the winners, nipping Naperville North senior Billy Suta, 53.8 to 53.1 for the all-around title.
“Everyone knew what they had to do and they did it.” Sansone said. “They played their part and it showed in the team competition.”
Sansone won floor with a 9.65 and added second-place finishes on pommel horse and high bar as well as third place on vault.
Senior Mark Ciesielski took second on floor with a 9.55 and second on vault with a 9.3, while Zach Neal also took second in a pair of events, earning an 8.75 on still rings and a 9 on parallel bars. Sophomore Conner Ritchie added a 9.05 on vault to take fifth.
“We needed the other guys to show our depth and I thought they did a great job,” Wheaton coach Greg Gebhardt said. “It was a qualifying meet, and while you want to do your best you also want to save your best for last.”
Considerably overshadowed was the season-high 141.3 by the Lancers.
“We seem to have peaked at the right time, so I’m extremely pleased,” Lake Park coach Keith Matune said. “We did really well on high bar, absolutely nailed floor, and parallel bars was outstanding. All in all, it was a great performance.”
The Lancers’ Sam Flory had top-five finishes on floor and pommel horse, Chris Avvisati took fourth on floor with a 9.05 and Mac Allen was third on still rings and won parallel bars with a 9.15.
“I didn’t expect to win. That was all because of a new routine,” Allen said. “Coach told me what to do and believed in me more than I did. I’ve only been doing it for a week, but I like it.”
Hoffman Estates was third with 137.65 points and followed by Schaumburg’s 145.6, Glenbard North’s 135.3, Naperville North’s 130.6 and Naperville Central’s 123.8.
Naperville North’s Billy Suta won high bar with a 9.35 and still rings with a 9. Some difficulties on pommel horse lowered his score to a 7.3 and hurt his chances for the all-around title, where he settled for second place.
Glenbard North’s T.J. Kennedy won vault with a 9.45 and took third in the all-around with a 49.15.
Elgin sophomore Steve Merena was fourth in the all-around with a 49.1 and followed by Schaumburg’s Chris Stehlin who totaled a 47.45.