Glenbard West dominates
The Glenbard West girls gymnastics team dominated the Glenbard West regional on Saturday afternoon in Glen Ellyn.
The Hilltoppers secured the top five places in bars, floor and vault, the top four on beam and won the regional convincingly with a 145.6. York was the runner-up with a 134.075, followed by Glenbard East’s 128.450 and a 123.2 by Willowbrook.
“As the top seed we wanted to send a message to everyone in the sectional that we might not be in that Stevenson sectional, but we can put up scores just like anyone else can,” Glenbard West coach Carlos Fuentes said. “For two years in a row now, every girl who competed in an event in the regional qualified for the sectional.”
Megan Brennan won vault with a 9.45 and beam with a 9.275, Becky Mladucky was tops on bars with a 9.625, and Missy Guzman led the pack on floor with a 9.5.
“People ask me who our top kid is and our top all-arounder and we’ve very blessed to have a lot of talent,” Fuentes said. “It’s depth, and you’re looking at three different winners on the four events.”
Guzman won the all-around with a 36.750, just edging Mladucky’s 36.350. Abbie Garchitorena was third with a 35.6.
Glenbard West’s Shannon Dietz counted a fall on bars but still landed in third place with an 8.650. Seemingly overshadowed by her teammates’ excellence, Nicole Pagor was third on floor with a 9.2 and placed fourth on beam with an 8.55 and vault with a 9.075.
York freshman Megan Davidson took fourth in the all-around with a 34.3, while senior teammate Haley Cleeton was fifth with a 33.850. Both advance to the Lake Park sectional along with their team as the Dukes earned one of two at-large team qualifiers. The other went to Lake Park, which scored a 132.925 at Geneva on Friday.
Glenbard East didn’t have any gymnasts advance to the Lake Park sectional as automatic qualifiers.
At Wheaton Warrenville South:
The Wheaton Warrenville South co-op team won its first regional with a 136.275, finishing comfortably ahead of runner-up Oak Park’s 128.9.
Sarah Bradley was second in the all-around for the winners with a 34.725, followed by Emily Cook’s 34.625 and Sarah Deicke’s 33.650.
At Lincoln-Way East:
Neuqua Valley took third place in the Lincoln-Way East regional with a 136.4. Host Lincoln-Way co-op finished ahead of runner-up Sandburg/Stagg co-op, 139.275 to 137.250, to win the title.
Sara Cushing took fifth with a 35.550 in the all-around to lead the Wildcats. Also advancing for Neuqua Valley were Riley Wypiszenski and Morgan Knight. Wypiszesnki took fourth on vault with a 9.35 and Knight was fifth on bars with an 8.75.