Girls gymnastics: ‘One big family’ — Downers Grove wraps up state championship
It was a great end to a fantastic season for the Downers Grove co-op girls gymnastics team Saturday afternoon at the IHSA state meet as it put the finishing touches on its second state championship in three years with 148.725 points.
The Trostangs added .275 points to its team score in the individual finals while Prairie Ridge co-op (145.65 points) added .225 points for the second place trophy.
Downers Grove senior state all-around champion Genevieve Herion won the state balance beam crown with a 9.575 while she placed second on vault (9.675), sixth on uneven bars (9.425), and eighth on floor exercise (9.1).
"I'm just super-proud of myself because me and my team have been working so hard, and having their support is the root of my success," said Herion. "We put in the work, we do everything together, and we're basically one big family."
Downers Grove's Kaelyn Landry placed fifth on uneven bars (9.475) to add .15 to the team score and continue to add to the school-record total.
"I'm just overall really proud of them. I had three kids in the finals with seven different routines. Genevieve was impressive, she was calm, she was confident, and she showed the entire gym what a phenomenal gymnast she is," said Downers Grove coach Kristyn Campos. "Two years in a row she (Herion) was state beam champion. It was a fantastic season, and we broke our school record four times this weekend."
State uneven bars champion Nora Terhaar's winning mark of 9.575 helped Prairie Ridge overtake Lincoln-Way co-op (145.60 points) for the runner-up spot. Terhaar added a ninth-place finish on vault (9.375).
"It was her best (uneven bars) routine of the season. I'm super-proud of her because she came back from a back injury so she didn't get to compete in the all-around until regionals," said Prairie Ridge coach Lexi Redmond. "She fights, she wants it, she always shows up for her team and herself. I've had her since she was a little girl and just watching her grow up and develop into a leader has been truly amazing."
Prairie Ridge's Thea Scheuer tied for sixth in the all-around Friday followed closely by teammate Bryleigh Cooper in eighth overall.
"I talked to my dad (Joseph) before I went out and he said go for broke, nothing else can happen and just do your best and the rest will do itself for you," said Terhaar. "I'm very happy making finals in two events as a sophomore. I'm honored and I didn't expect to get this far so this is a big accomplishment."
Besides being named senior gymnast of the year, Willowbrook's Naomi Campbell hit a career-high 9.525 to take home the second-place medal on balance beam.
"The first part of the season was very hard for me (due to hand injury), and each meet my confidence went up," said Campbell. "This season I was more confident because I've been here before and no matter what happened today I was happy how I persevered."
Palatine's Jolee Waddington took second on uneven bars with a 9.55 and fifth on floor with a 9.4.
"I'm just glad I got to be here, and it's an honor to perform here," said Waddington, who tied for sixth in the all-around. "I love every girl here even if I don't know them, and I couldn't ask for a better crowd."
Hersey freshman Maria Reyes took third on floor with a 9.5 while Hinsdale South's Anya Patel (9.525) placed third on uneven bars. Vernon Hills' Livy Tran (9.575) took third on vault while St. Charles co-op's Rachel Nicastro (9.425) tied for third on balance beam. Both Tran and teammate Mya Brusso suffered from falls on beam after going one-two on beams in the prelims Friday and going two-three in the all-around.
"I couldn't be more proud of the way they (Tran and Brusso) came out yesterday, and it's tough for any athlete to come out on back-to-back days," said Vernon Hills coach Denise Caton. "Mya is only a sophomore and for her to come out and shine as an individual just shows her potential for next year."
Geneva's Reese Lackey captured the fourth-place medal on floor (9.45) while Patel placed fifth on beam (9.35). Glenbard North's Jaida Aguayo (9.475) placed sixth on vault while Neuqua Valley's Lucia Caruso (9.35) tied for sixth on floor.
Warren's Emilia Montes (9.3) placed seventh on beam and Downers Grove's Caroline Phillip (9.425) took seventh on vault. Lake Zurich's Mia McHugh (9.4) took eighth on vault and eighth on uneven bars (9.325). Tran placed ninth on beam (9.0) while McHugh (8.925) tied for ninth on floor.