Carmel wins state gymnastics championship

Amber Mirski set up what the Carmel Catholic girls gymnastics team long awaited.

She performed her bar routine near-flawlessly, helping give the Corsairs what they ultimately achieved Saturday night: a state championship.

When Mirski's bars score of 9.525 was posted, the Corsairs erupted, jumping up and down and screaming. The noise was probably heard all the way back to Mundelein.

"We were all excited and I hit it like I wanted to do it," said Mirski, who finished tied for second with Kristin Grilli of Hinsdale Central and Becky Maducky of Glenbard West. "We knew it would be higher than my preliminary score. It was exciting knowing it put us in a good spot for the trophy. It was the first time for me being on the podium."

Carmel's state championship was its first since 1993. The Corsairs chalked a 147.25 to finish ahead of Lyons (146.775). Fremd earned the final trophy, taking third with a 145.925, just ahead of Prairie Ridge (145.825). Lake Forest (143.25) ended up in eighth place behind Glenbard West (145.65), Hinsdale Central (144.025) and Glenbard North (143.95).

Carmel broke a four-year run of missing out of the top three.

"I think it's starting to hit me," Carmel coach Sarah Doyle said. "I was in the corner and saw the scoreboard. The girls did everything. It all came to fruition. They believed."

Carmel's Kristin Mirski earned medals by taking third on floor (9.5) and fourth on beam (9.4).

"I can't explain my feelings right now," Amber Mirski said. "It's overwhelming to finally get here (on the podium). I felt so good on each event. We knew what had."

Amber Mirski took seventh on floor (9.35) and vault (9.625).

Warren senior Kim Gotlund ended the finals by winning three medals. She captured the all-around Friday night.

Gotlund won bars with a 9.65) and took seconds on vault (9.625) and beam (9.625).

"I came in relaxed after winning the all-around," said Gotlund, who became the third individual state champion for Warren. Ashley Alden won beam in 2000 and Danyelle Aber finished first on vault in 2004. "I just wanted to have fun and do my best. Bars is actually my weakest event."

Warren's Katie Vovolka picked up a fourth-place medal on floor (9.45)

Ali Castriano of Stevenson won beam with a 9.65. Castriano also tied for fifth on vault with Lyons' Carolyn Cozza, as each earned a 9.65, and finished seventh on bars with a 9.3.

"It was goal at the start of the season," said Castriano, who was second on beam last year. "This year it seemed like the competition was a lot tougher. I knew I could do a lot better this time around."

Lake Forest's Kylie Carlson took second place on floor (9.425) behind Jenny Covers of Prairie Ridge (9.625). Lake Forest's Ofelia Carmichael placed ninth on vault (9.275).