Libertyville keeps rolling
The Independent Conference boys gymnastics opener proved to be a good one for host Libertyville on Tuesday night against Mundelein.
The Wildcats looked pretty sharp in posting a 134.5, but Mundelein (0-1) did not have the luck of the Irish on this St. Patrick's Day as the young Mustangs had to settle for 116.8.
Sophomore newcomer Craig Breckenridge continued to lead the Wildcats (3-1, 1-0), who could not top the 136-plus they registered Saturday, with a first-place 7.95 average in the all-around competition.
Wildcats Ashton Coulson was a close second with a 7.78 average, followed by Mundelein's Scott Marthinsen (7.30 average) in third place.
"I'm happy so far, the season is going well, and I think I'm where I should be," Breckenridge said. "The team is working together really well, and I think we can make a huge increase in our score."
Even without senior Phil Pickar competing on at least four events Libertyville was impressive.
Coulson and Marthinsen tied for first on vault with a 9.1. Libertyville's Zach Chapman and Mundelein's Mike Agosto (8.5) tied for third.
Breckenridge and Coulson (9.0) tied for top honors on floor exercise, followed by Marthinsen with an 8.8. Breckenridge added a winning parallel bars score of 8.5 thanks to a great dismount.
"We were pretty solid on Saturday, but the guys were a little shaky, and they looked a little tired with a midweek meet tonight," said Wildcats coach Curt Austin, whose team hit a 25.9 on vault. "134 is a decent score and we beat everything we did last year. I'm very excited, and wait until you see them going into May."
Coulson edged Breckenridge 8.2-8.0 for first place on still rings. Coulson also nipped Breckenridge 7.5-7.4 for first on high bar.
Mundelein's Tim Beranek (6.8) was the pommel horse champion. Marthinsen added a second-place 7.9 on parallel bars.
"We're a young team and the work that the guys are putting in at practice has been very good," said Mundelein coach Jesse Piland. "I'm happy to see so much participation for the first time in a few years at the lower levels and that gives us hope for the future."