Warren vaults to third straight NSC crown

Warren certainly showed a flair for the dramatic Saturday afternoon at Libertyville.

And their clutch performances under pressure enabled the Blue Devils to capture their third consecutive North Suburban Conference girls gymnastics championship.

The issue wasn't settled until the final event of the competition.

Entering the last rotation, Stevenson held a .9 advantage over Warren through three of the four events.

While the Blue Devils finished on the vault, the Patriots performed their floor exercises.

Warren hit to the tune of a solid 38.725, while Stevenson scored 35.775.

That gave the Blue Devils a total of 148.635 and the crown.

Stevenson took second with 147.025, followed by Libertyville (132.35) and Lake Forest (132.05).

"We definitely didn't started well on floor and did the same on beam and bars as Stevenson," said Warren coach Carrie Parker. "We were a little worried. We never go by looking at scores. By looking around, we knew it was real close.

"The girls knew they had to hit (vault) and could get good scores."

Stevenson junior Chelsie Seplowin took first place in three events and chalked up a career-best all-around score of 38.6.

Seplowin won the vault with a 9.7, balance beam (9.65) and uneven parallel bars (9.65). She was runner-up on floor with a 9.6.

'It's amazing and I knew if I hit everything it's possible," Seplowin said. "It depends on my performance. If I keep setting my goals for higher scores, it will make me do better. It's what mentally I can do to perform."

Warren's Kim Gotlund placed first on floor with a mark of 9.8.

Gotlund was second on bars with 9.55, took fourth on vault (9.625) and was runner-up to Seplowin in the all-around with 38.075.

"I thought I had a lot of confidence coming in," Gotlund said. "I hit my first pass and it was probably my best double-pike I've had all year. I had more motivation to finish the routine."

The Blue Devils' Kacie Holop took third in all-around (37.525). Holop notched a second on vault (9.675), third on balance beam (9.5) and fourth on bars (9.15).

Chelsea Youngberg finished fifth in all-around (37.025), including fifth places on bars (9.05) and floor (9.35). Katie Vovolka added a fifth place on beam (9.4).

Stevenson's Lauren Patterson earned second on beam (9.4), while Stephanie Wojton took fourth (9.45). Shana Manning had the third-best score on floor with 9.55.

Lakes' Cody Ksioszk was fourth in the all-around with a 37.35 average. Ksioszk was third on bars (9.25), fourth on floor (9.5) and fifth on vault with a 9.6.

Libertyville's Amanda Winn placed third on vault with a mark of 9.65.