Gurnee gym crowns two Regional champs, sends two to Nationals!

Let's make that a three-peat! For the third time in as many years Gurnee-based Ultimate Gymnastics can claim a Level 10 regional champion.

Grayslake Junior Ally Hoyer scored 9.60 to take first place on balance beam at this past weekend's Region 5 championships held in Niles, OH. The event matches the best gymnasts from Illinois against their counterparts from Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky.

Ally also scored 9.60 on floor exercise to net a silver medal on that event. In addition, she placed 7th on vault and was 10th in the all-around, in a strongly competitive Senior C age group.

Ally becomes the first Ultimate gymnast to claim regional titles at three different levels - In addition to her current Level 10 beam title, she was the 2012 Level 9 Regional floor champion and the 2010 Level 8 Regional floor champion.

Her Level 10 teammate Lauren Marshall had a strong, consistent meet and her 8th place finish in the all-around means she has been named first alternate to the Region 5 team for JO Nationals. That meet will take place next month in Des Moines, IA hosted by Chow's Gymnastics. In the event that she is not needed for the JO National meet, she will compete at the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) to be held at the same venue, immediately afterwards.

The Junior from Winthrop Harbor also scored 9.40 to place 4th on vault and placed in the top ten on both floor exercise and balance beam in the Senior A age group.

Ultimate's second Regional title of the weekend came at Level 9 when Lake Forest's Carrie Grumhaus placed first on floor exercise, scoring 9.475. She was also runner-up on uneven bars (9.30) and 5th on vault (9.30) in the Senior 7 age group. Her fourth place finish in the all-around means she will continue on to represent Region 5 at the Level 9 Eastern National competition, to be held in May in Kissimmee, FL.

In the Senior 8 age group Bailee Hardy had a strong performance on her signature event - the uneven bars. Her 9.425 gained her a silver medal. She also placed 4th on floor (9.325).

In the younger Senior 4 age group, Ximena Gomez placed 9th on floor exercise (9.25) and scored 8.85 on vault.