Wheaton co-op claims DuKane title
The DuKane Conference belongs to Wheaton co-op this season.
The self-titled Fligers made sure of that, winning Friday's conference meet in Geneva convincingly with 144.7 points, comfortably in front of Lake Park's 139.075.
Last year, the Lancers edged the Fligers, 144.95 to 144.45. This time, it wouldn't go down to the wire.
"I think in the last three or four meets we've kind of hit our stride," Wheaton co-op coach Maureen Kermend said. "This year they came in more skill ready on their routines so it's given us more opportunities to work on the mental side of things in practice."
Macy Smykal led the way for the Fligers, winning the all-around as well as vault and floor.
"I had a really good meet," she said. "I just told myself before I went on each event to just be confident and that I know what I'm doing. I've been doing so many numbers and routines during practice that I know by now that I just have to go out there and try my best."
While Smykal was impressive, she wasn't the only one to come up big for the Fligers.
That included Jamie LaBue, the reigning state beam champion, who recently came back from injuries but is limited to performing on just two events. She made the most of them, earning a 9.2 on vault to take fourth place and winning beam.
"I'm just happy to be back out there helping my team on any event I can," LaBue said. "Whatever I can do to get into the overall score."
Not to be overlooked were the efforts from especially five other Fligers as Emily Burnham won bars and took second on floor, Maura Clark took second on beam, Jackie Kerth who followed Clark for third on bars, Natalie Gillis who took third on floor and Jill Horvatin who tied four fourth on beam.
The runner-up Lancers received strong all-around efforts from Racquel Suhr and Paulina Lucer like they have throughout the season as the duo finished second and third in the all-around.
"We were a little below our season high today so it was not a perfect meet, but there were a lot of good things," Lancers coach Jake Luketin said. "Things are coming together and we're looking to make a little bit more come together by next week."
Suhr took fourth on floor and fifth on vault, Julia Kurek was second on beam and fifth on floor and Lucre placed third on beam.
"I just wish I stuck my vault better," Lucre said. "Everyone has been pretty consistent during practice and putting in a lot of work and it's just going to help us."
Led by senior Gracie De Vita placing fourth in the all-around with a season-best 34.85 and teammate Olivia Takesue adding a 33.375, host Geneva placed third with a 134.775.
"We all hit bars today which is something we've been trying to do the last couple of meets," De Vita said. "This team has so much talent and we're starting to put it together now."
Batavia just fell short of the Vikings, taking fourth place with a 132.275.
Taylor Novotny and Olivia Bartolotta finished back-to-back in the all-around with a 33.175 and 32.175 respectively to lead the Bulldogs. The highlight of the night occurred on vault as Haley Salus tied St. Charles co-op's Alissa Buono for second place with a 9.25.
"That was definitely one of my better vaults," Salus said. "I've done some new stuff in practice before meets like adding a higher mat on top and figuring out some new techniques. It's definitely helped trying new stuff."
St. Charles co-op did not have any gymnasts beside Buono finish in the Top 10 in any event. It finished in fifth place overall with a 124.45.
Maddie Kramer scored a 31.225 and Ashley Olea added a 30.475 as all-rounders for St. Charles co-op.
Glenbard North has been functioning as less than a full squad this season and Friday night was no different. Sarah Ozeki led the Panthers, placing fifth in the all-around with a 33.65. She also took fifth on bars with an 8.675.