Gotlund, Warren think positive
NIU-bound Kim Gotlund picked up all-around honors and beat last year's state champion, Jenny Covers of Prairie Ridge, for the second time in less than a month on Monday night
The Blue Devils' Gotlund (37.5) beat Covers and her teammate Kelci Schulz (37.3) for the all-around crown in the IHSA regional held at Deerfield.
Prairie Ridge won the regional and got past Warren 145.175-144.4. The Wolves qualified as a team for the Stevenson sectional next week, while the Blue Devils will have to wait until the other three regionals are complete and hope to be one of the two at-large teams to advance. Deerfield finished third (132.725) and Glenbrook South fourth 130.25.
"We wanted to win this, but we made mistakes," Warren coach Christy Worth said. "The good thing is, we made mistakes on the floor, came back and threw some great beam routines. It's good to see the team pull together and finish strong."
Gotlund was the runner-up in state as a sophomore and took last year off for club competition. She returned this year and expected to be battling Covers in the upcoming sectional, and at the state meet.
On Monday night, Gotlund finished first on bars (9.725), with seconds on vault (9.65) and beam (9.55). But she had a double-fall on the floor (8.575) and may not advance as an individual in that event.
"I'm kind of disappointed on floor, but I had to forget about everything that happened," said Gotlund, who also had a fall at the NSC meet last week on floor but recovered quickly. "I just focused on my beam routine for the team and myself.
"I know I may not make it to state on floor, but I want to make it in the all-around."
Outside of Gotlund, the Blue Devils finished up with their triple threat on beam going 1-2-3 on the podium. Katie Vovolka had season-best routine (9.575) and Schulz added a 9.525.
"I felt like we needed a big score in trying to win," said Vovolka, who also placed fourth in the all-around. "I felt like I had to pull through for the team. I thought hitting the landing was the best part of the routine."
Schulz, in her first year with Warren, has adjusted quite well from being in club last year. She placed second on bars (9.35), third on vault (9.35) and fifth on floor (9.075) in the regional. "It's totally different experience than club," said Schulz, a junior. "We were all together, Kim (Gotlund) and Katie (Vovolka), when we were younger.
"This was my first real big meet in high school. I just tried to come out with a lot of confidence."
Monday's score was Warren's second-best of the season.
"The whole team is very supportive of each other," said Vovolka, who has been on the team for four years. "I feel like the team is involved and we've got a good mindset of what we're doing."
Girls basketballHighland Park 59, Carmel 44: Highland Park outscored Carmel 25-5 in the fourth quarter to get the nonconference victory. The Corsairs squandered double-figure performances from Erin Quinn (14 points) and Kristine Ruhl (11 points). Highland Park got double-figures from three players. Briana Collier led the way with 18 points.True19501194Kim Gotlund performs on the uneven bars during regional gymnastics at Deerfield High School Monday night.Steve Lundy | Staff PhotographerTrue