Stevenson focuses on state title opportunity

It has been a tough road to get back to the top for the Stevenson boys gymnastics program.

But after a relatively brief six-year hiatus, the Patriots are ready to claim the state championship Friday at the 59th state meet at Lincoln-Way East.

The Elite Eight team competition begins at 6 p.m., with host squad Lincoln-Way co-op expected to give the Patriots their toughest competition.

The two-day state meet continues Saturday at noon with the all-around competition and the individual preliminary round. The top 10 individuals in each event advance to the state finals at 7 p.m.

Stevenson has had a very workmanlike approach to the entire 2010 season and they are the heavy favorites to win their fourth state title in school history after recording a three-peat from 2002-04.

The Patriots' 2002 title team has the second highest score in IHSA history under the current scoring format with a 167.1, but it's unlikely anyone Friday will reach that lofty total.

With three all-arounders capable of scoring in the mid-50's, a fourth gymnast near 50 and senior all-arounder Lukasz Adamczyk a state title contender in the all-around, the Pats' depth has been phenomenal this spring under sixth-year coach Mike Farina.

Adamczyk missed the sectional meet last year due to illness, but he heads into his final state meet this weekend with a shot at team, all-around, and individual crowns to potentially win.

Adamczyk posted a state-high 55.25 to win the Conant sectional. But he will face tough competition from numerous elite gymnasts Saturday, including junior teammate Alex Hoersten, who hit a 54.5 at sectionals.

Lincoln-Way co-op defeated the Patriots head to head at the Mundelein Invite, but the Griffins only scored a 160.55 at sectionals compared to a state-high 163.65 for Stevenson.

Lincoln-Way's No. 2 all-arounder broke his foot just days before sectionals. Conant has the inside track for third place with Wheaton North's top all-arounder now out due to recent emergency surgery.

Stevenson junior all-arounder Mike Wilner is another elite gymnast to watch along with junior teammate Scott Siegel, who also qualified for the all-around competition Saturday. Stevenson freshman Jonah Mancino gives the Pats one more security blanket to fall back on if necessary.

"We want to hit our routines with no major deductions so we're focusing on that part of it," said Farina, who was an assistant coach to current assistant coach Dexter Victoria when the Patriots won their first three titles. "They know that they've got a good chance of winning, but we try not to focus on that and try to do the best on each event."

Mundelein will have two gymnasts competing on Saturday with junior Scott Marthinsen earning an at-large berth in the all-around and qualifying for every individual event except parallel bars.

Marthinsen reached the finals on vault last year, but he missed his dismount and had to settle for 13th place on that event. This will be Marthinsen's third straight appearance in the state meet.

"He (Marthinsen) was the No. 1 qualifier on vault in the prelims, but he was a little too pumped up and he over did his vault in the finals," said Mundelein coach Jesse Piland. "He wants to see if he can get up on the podium (top five) on vault and he can get just as much height and distance on vault as anybody in the state."

Mundelein sophomore Tim Beranek will be making his first state meet appearance on pommel horse, parallel bars, and high bar.

"After not making state at all last year I was really impressed how Tim (Beranek) came into the season, and he did a lot of work in the off-season," Piland said. "His best event by far is pommel horse. If he does exactly what his routine is worth and he does it to the best of his ability he could get to the finals."

Libertyville junior Craig Breckenridge may have struggled a little bit in placing 26th in the all-around in his first state meet last year. But he has improved by leaps and bounds since then as he heads into Saturday with much more confidence and experience under his belt. Breckenridge will have a lot of tough competition again in the all-around, and he has a great shot at finals on floor exercise.

"He kind of figured our how the high school judging works, he came in physically stronger than last year, and he came back to prove something," said Libertyville coach Curt Austin. "I definitely think that we're putting top 10 as a goal in the all-around, and that would be a fantastic accomplishment."