Girls gymnastics: Warren edges Libertyville for 2nd at NSC meet; Stevenson’s Staub wins all-around
Host Lake Forest was able to defend its North Suburban Conference girls gymnastics championship Thursday night, but the battle for second place was a real mystery until the final results were tabulated.
Both Warren and Libertyville posted season-high marks in the meet, but it was the Blue Devils that wound up barely edging the Wildcats 139.950 to 139.925 to take runner-up honors.
Behind sophomore all-around champion Kate Staub's 37.05 points (9.26 average), Stevenson took fourth place with 136.125 points followed by Lake Zurich (132.65 points) in fifth, and Mundelein (131.025) in sixth.
Libertyville's Nina Raniszewski (36.625 points) took fourth in the all-around followed by Warren's Nora Werner (36.5) in fifth, Mundelein's Lexie Ede (36.0) in sixth, and Lake Zurich's Mia McHugh (35.9) in seventh.
"Floor was our best event by far. I'm very proud of them, and they just picked each other up throughout the meet," said Warren coach Mary Kovac, whose team is at the New Trier regional next Thursday. "She (Werner) got a 36.5 all-around with a fall on beam which is unlike her so she had a great score all-around with a fall and it was one of her best meets."
Werner was the floor exercise champ with a 9.6 while Staub (9.45) took second on floor. Raniszewski placed second on vault with a 9.4. Werner took second on uneven bars with a 9.35. Staub placed second on balance beam with a 9.3.
"They performed their very best, and I would say beam was our best event," said Libertyville coach Tiffany Owens. "From a performance perspective it was her (Raniszewski's) best meet, and I think this is a definitely good place for the girls to be in heading into the state series."
Ede lost a point and a half on uneven bars and beam to start the meet while Staub was able to put together a consistent performance from start to finish.
"I'm really proud of her (Staub). This is a really tough conference and it's a great achievement to win the all-around," said Stevenson coach Judy Harwood. "It's really hard to finish on beam, and to do a really good routine wrapped it up for her (Staub)."
Warren's Camryn Clark placed eighth in the all-around. Stevenson's Samantha Matzek and Evy Haggerty rounded out the top 10. Lake Zurich's Ella Babcock (9.2) and Ede tied for third on beam. Libertyville's MacKenzie Tyrrell (9.35) placed fourth on floor exercise.
"She (McHugh) had a fall on floor today, but she did a good job of regrouping and finishing strong," said Lake Zurich coach Chelsie Grotelueschen. "Ella (Babcock) did a new routine on beam, and she had a career-high score with a flip-flop layout on beam."
The Bears and Wildcats are at the Vernon Hills regional on Monday while Mundelein is at the Stevenson regional on Tuesday.
"Our focus is Tuesday, and if they wanted to add any new skills today was the day to do it," said Mundelein coach Daniella Strauss. "We'll be in the gym on Saturday and Monday, and all of the training the last two months will pay off."