Stevenson soars to title, but wants more
Very good - but not good enough, according to the victors.
The Stevenson girls gymnastic team chalked up a season-best score of 150.625 en route to capturing its own sectional championship Thursday night in Lincolnshire.
The Patriots posted what was also a state-best score out of the four sectionals held this week, putting Stevenson into the driver's seat as the front-runner for the IHSA state meet next Friday and Saturday at Palatine High School.
Carmel rang up its season-best score - 148.3 - to finish second and earn an at-large team state berth.
The Patriots didn't have one of their best meets and still have room for improvement, according to their veteran coach.
"It was not our best effort," said Stevenson coach Judy Harwood. "We're not too worried about the score. We're worried about being able to do our routines. Nice to get the score with not our best performance. Better to have it now than next week. The girls still have a lot of work to do and be prepared better."
The Patriots' Caitlin Pagano earned top honors on uneven parallel bars (9.675) with a clean routine.
"I've been working on it all season and trying to make it better," Pagano said. "Right now, I'm trying to work on the little things that count, sticking the landing or pointing my toes."
Stephanie Wotjon was right behind (9.575) and Chelsie Seplowin finished fourth (9.475).
Seplowin tied for first on floor with Carmel's Amber Mirski (9.7), took second on vault (9.75) behind Prairie Ridge's Jenn Covers (9.85) and placed fourth on uneven bars (9.475).
The Patriots' Ali Castriano placed second on beam (9.4), and Stephanie Wojton was fourth on floor (9.525)
Carmel started out slow on beam (35.625), but recovered quickly over the last three events.
"The girls put beam behind them and rocked the rest of the meet," said Carmel coach Sarah Mikrut-Doyle. "They deserve to show everybody what they're capable of doing."
The Corsairs' Kristin Mirski won the all-around (38) just ahead of Stevenson's Seplowin (37.9), Stephanie Wojton (37.65) and Castriano (37.55).
Kristin Mirski had a personal best and the top score on beam of 9.65.
"I just wanted to put everything into it," Mirski said. "I was just thinking about it all week."
Kristin Mirski also tied for fifth with Lake Forest's Ofelia Carmichael on vault (9.575). Kristin's sister Amber finished fourth on vault (9.65) and third on bars (9.5). Dani Clement qualified fifth on beam (9.15)
Barrington's Laura Sculley took fifth in the all-around (37.375), third on vault (9.7), fifth on bars (9.45) and floor (9.5)
Leah Herchenbach qualified for the state meet by taking third on beam (9.275) for Libertyville.