Hinsdale Central edges Glenbard West

Even with two of its gymnasts out of the lineup, Glenbard West nearly beat Hinsdale Central again.

The Hilltoppers edged the Red Devils in a key West Suburban Silver meet on Wednesday but saw the Red Devils rally on beam to beat them and the rest of the 12-team field in Saturday's Naperville North Invitational.

Normally a meet would end with the hosts on floor exercise, but on this occasion Naperville North finished its floor-exercise routines before all eyes were on Hinsdale Central and the balance beam.

Needing to surpass a 35.275 to beat Glenbard West, Erin Usher and Leah Tarabour posted a 9.4 and 9.5, respectively to conclude the meet and propel the Red Devils to a 141.1-140.7 victory over Glenbard West. Prospect placed third with a 137.125 and Palatine was fourth with a 136.250. The hosts took fifth with a 133.575, with Barrington and Hersey closely behind.

"That was exciting. No one likes to finish last on beam," Usher said. "Everybody is watching. It's not what you want to be on in a pressure situation, but we were put on it and we pulled it out."

Sarah Udelhofen took first on the vault, Shannon Dietz placed second on bars and Missy Guzman took second in the floor exercise and posted a 35.325 in the all-around to lead the Hilltoppers, who contended without Becky Mladucky and Megan Brennan.

"We had a fair meet today," Glenbard West coach Carlos Fuentes said. "A little rough on bars, but we competed well on vault and floor."

Prospect's Katie Colmone was runner-up to Usher in the all-around with a 35.85. She won the bars with a dazzling 9.45.

"Each time I do it, it keeps getting better and better," Colmone said. "I've been scoring consistently like this, and it's my favorite event."

It was an up-and-down type of meet for the host Huskies, who were hoping to finish a bit stronger but were pleased to work on some new skills.

"Overall we were a little disappointed," Naperville North coach Chris Stanicek said. "We wanted to finish a little bit better because we know we're capable of that, but there were some highlights and that we'll focus in on."

Carolyn Filarski wasn't 100 percent but good enough to take third on bars and fourth on beam for the Huskies.

"I wasn't feeling too well today," she said. "But it went OK, as well as I guess it could have."