Ultimate Gymnastics of Gurnee sends competitors to nationals

Submitted by Jane Feely

It has been a record-breaking season for Ultimate Gymnastics from start to finish. From the first meet last November, when the Level 7s qualified to represent Illinois at the National Judges Cup for a third successive year, to the Level 9 and 10 national meets that saw five Ultimate girls on the medal podium, it has been a fantastic gymnastics journey.

This year, the Gurnee-based gym qualified six girls to Level 9 Eastern Nationals in Maryland — four competitors and two alternates. They also chalked up their first Level 10 National Qualifier when Gurnee’s Lauren Feely earned the right to compete in Hampton, Va.

Not only does it take focus, skill and determination to qualify to nationals at Level 9 and 10, these girls also have to remain fit and healthy and keep their skills and routines honed for what is a very long competitive season. Oh, and did anyone mention the pressure of competing on the national stage where, at Level 10 at least, wall-to-wall college scouts are watching your every move?

Thankfully, the girls were not in the least bit overwhelmed by their surroundings or by the level of the competition. At Level 9, Grayslake’s Ally Hoyer had an outstanding meet in the Junior 8 age group, coming home with a trio of silver medals. She scored 9.625 on vault and 9.60 on floor, the event she won at both state and regionals this year. Hoyer’s all-around score: an impressive 37.325.

Next up in the Senior 1 age group, was Vernon Hills’ Sydney Stein. Rounding out her first year with the Gurnee gym, Stein’s skills on balance beam earned her a bronze medal at nationals where she scored 9.30. Her 36.90 all-around score placed her fifth.

Two of the area’s outstanding high school gymnasts also made the trip to Level 9 Eastern Nationals. Lake Forest’s Kat McKeon qualified last year as an alternate but didn’t get to compete. This year she left nothing to chance, finishing fourth all-around at regionals and earning her spot on the Region 5 team. At nationals, uneven bars was McKeon’s best event; her score of 9.175 earned her a silver medal. She also placed fifth on beam and fourth in the all-around.

Carmel Catholic’s Anna Brandmeier, a two-time Level 9 national qualifier, also had an outstanding meet on bars. Her score of 9.275 claimed second place on the podium. She then went on to compete at the High School Senior Nationals meet in Florida, where she not only helped Illinois to a share of the first-place title but also placed fifth all-around. Brandmeier, who graduates from Carmel this month, will be attending the University of Miami, Ohio in the Fall.

Ultimate’s two Level 9 alternates also made the trip to Maryland, where they cheered on their teammates. Unfortunately, neither Lauren Marshall (Junior 5) or Emily Basara (Senior 3) were called upon to the compete. Last year, Basara, a Warren freshman, placed fourth on beam at the same national meet.

The following weekend saw the Ultimate coaches pack their bags for Hampton, Va., where Feely qualified to compete at Level 10 JO nationals in the Senior A age group. Starting on her strongest event, vault, Feely scored a 9.60 with her full twisting yurchenko. For five out of the meet’s eight rotations, the score was enough to keep her in first place but eventually it was bettered and she finished in fourth place. Feely also notched up a personal best score on uneven bars at Level 10 (9.05). She stuck all four routines, scored a season best 36.875 in the all-around and placed 25th out of the top 57 girls in her age group from across the country.

Feely, who is a junior at Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein, has verbally committed to compete in Division 1 gymnastics for Bowling Green State University in Ohio for the Fall of 2013.

Scores for individual gymnasts are as follows:

Level 9

Junior 8 age group: Ally Hoyer (Grayslake): Vault: 9.625 (2nd); Bars: 9.175; Beam: 8.925; Floor: 9.60 (2nd); All-around: 37.325 (2nd).

Senior 1 age group: Sydney Stein (Vernon Hills): Vault: 9.30; Bars: 9.225; Beam: 9.30 (3rd); Floor: 9.075; All-around: 36.90 (5th).

Senior 7 age group: Katherine McKeon (Lake Forest): Vault: 9.15; Bars: 9.175 (2nd); Beam: 8.975 (5th); Floor: 9.175; All-around: 36.475 (4th).

Senior 8 age group: Anna Brandmeier (Lake Villa): Vault: 9.125; Bars: 9.275 (2nd); Beam: 8.15; Floor: 9.35; All-around: 35.90.

In all of the four above age groups, Region 5 placed first in the team award.

Level 10

Senior A age group: Lauren Feely (Gurnee): Vault: 9.60 (4th); Bars: 9.05; Beam: 9.10; Floor: 9.125; All-around: 36.875.

In the Senior A age group, Region 5 placed second.

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