Naperville North's Robert ties for third on bars

Naperville North's Michaela Robert knows what the girls gymnastics state experience is like, but Saturday caught the junior by surprise.

Robert advanced out of Friday's individual event preliminaries on vault and bars, qualifying for the individual finals for the first time.

"It was a lot more intense than I was kind of expecting it to be," she said. "I was not expecting all of the cameras and everything, but I just kept the right state of mind. I was able to be a bit more relaxed because I knew there wasn't anything more after this on the season and I think that really helped me."

It most certainly helped Robert on the uneven parallel bars as she tied for third place with a 9.475 to earn a medal.

"Placing today was just icing on the cake," she said. "I'm really happy with how things ended up."

Robert also took seventh place on vault with a 9.475.

"Vault and bars are the two events that I'm most confident in so it was easier for me to stay focused," she said. "I was happy I was able to get what I needed done."

Naperville Central sophomore Jill Schuberth also medaled, taking fifth place on beam with a 9.375.

"I didn't expect to get this far, but once I did, it's a great accomplishment," she said. "I think I did really good throughout the season, which helped me get here today."

Schuberth said she wasn't sure if she'd return next year for her junior campaign or commit fully to her gymnastics club.

Glenbard North sophomore Allison Wahrman secured one of the final qualifiers on vault on Friday and used it to place sixth on Saturday with a 9.5.

"I wasn't really expecting to even make it for vault, I was thinking I'd make it for bars," she said. "I told my coach I was going to make it and asked what I needed and she said a 9.5 and that's what I got to get back here."