Carmel recovers, wins at New Trier
Defending girls gymnastics state champion Carmel was off balance for starters but recovered in time to deliver a season-best score on Saturday.
The Corsairs earned the top spot at the eight-team New Trier Holiday Invite with a 149.9, ahead of Carmel's previous best this season (149.2). That was enough to beat Stevenson (148.725), Fremd (146.425) and Hinsdale Central 143.575 in Winnetka.
Carmel started out on the balance beam and had a 36.125, which included one fall. But the Corsairs pulled things together in a hurry on vault (38.4), then floor (38) and bars (37.375)
“We've been strong on beam and hitting the beam,” Carmel coach Sarah Doyle said. “You always wonder when the one meet doesn't all come together. There were some great things about beam, but there were some things that were off.
“This is one of those step-it-up meets for us. We prep for and look forward to this before the break. We want to see where we are and what changes we need to make. We've got a ton of competition around us. You can't relax, and you always have to be on your game.”
Lauren Feely, a Carmel sophomore, had a fall on beam and but recovered and won the three other events.
“When something happens like that you just forget about it and move on” Feely said. “That's what I did. I was a little mad and took it out on the other events.”
Feely landed in the top spot on vault, hitting a Yurchenko layout full for a 9.8. Feely also finished first on the floor (9.750) and bars (9.575) and tied for third in the all-around with Fremd's Maegan Wochinski (37.625).
“Not many people do it,” said Feely of her vault. “It's really hard to twist out of it with a layout.”
Carmel's Kristin Mirski picked up second in the all-around (38.025). She also took top honors on beam (9.525), third on vault (9.7) and tied for third on the floor with Niles North's Citlali Cuevas and teammate Jen Zeller (9.6).
“It felt good going against the quality of competition,” Mirski said. “A lot of work in practice really paid off. I'm just always pushed by other girls trying to advance.”
Zeller also posted a third on bars (9.475) and Sarah Cohen Smith finished fifth on vault (9.6).
Ali Castriano of Stevenson had a career-best and hit the top score in the all-around (38.25), second on vault (9.75), floor (9.65) and bars (9.55) in addition to taking fourth on beam (9.325).
“I was able to hit my best score on vault,” Castriano said. “The environment was really relaxed and we just wanted to come out and have fun. I think it helped everybody.”
The Patriots' Theresa Wojton placed fifth in the all-around (37.375) and third on beam (9.375). Caitlin Pagano competed in two events, tied for fifth on bars with Hinsdale Central's Kristen Grilli (9.4) and also finished fifth on beam (9.2).
Stevenson beat its previous high score from 10 days ago against Lake Forest.
“I really think this will energize us going into the break,” Stevenson coach Judy Harwood said. “Coming into the meet I thought it would be great to do well against the competition. Having Hinsdale Central, Carmel and Fremd in the same meet with you was like competing in a state meet.
“The girls are getting better through hard work and repetitions. This is not the best we can do, I think we can still improve our score.”
Fremd recovered a bit from earlier in the week and got its team back on track. .
“I'm pleased with the way we stepped up, but we have some things to work on,” Fremd coach Jim Guest said. “We still have room for improvement. But we don't have everybody back. All in all, I'm pleased to be where we are from about a half a week ago.
“With all the state-level teams here, this was a high-powered meet.”
The Vikings' Wochinski chalked up second on beam (9.45) and Emily Pinderski took fourth on bars (9.425).
“I was very consistent, along with the team,” Wochinski said. “However, we do need to do some cleaning up.”