Glenbard North’s regional streak ends
DeKalb/Sycamore co-op ended Glenbard North’s bid for a seventh straight regional championship, outscoring the Panthers, 142.275 to 140.350 in Wednesday’s Glenbard North regional.
Willowbrook was third with a 126.150, while Addison Trail took fourth with a 113.95.
DeKalb/Sycamore used a great combination of talent and depth to win the title. It also got a bit of revenge. In last year’s Glenbard North sectional, DeKalb/Sycamore scored an impressive 144.875, but it wasn’t enough to catch Glenbard North’s 146.35, which earned the Panthers a trip to the state finals at Palatine.
The winners had the top three scores on bars, two of the top three scores on floor, three top-five finishes on beam and all five of its gymnasts scored at least a 9.0 on vault.
Although it came up short of winning another regional title, Glenbard North had its best meet of the season, eclipsing 140 for the first time since last year’s state finals.
“I was very happy with the team score,” Glenbard North coach Allison Nelson said. “The girls were fighting for their skills, having fun and showing off their routines like they’ve been doing all season.”
Senior Mariah Matesi could not have started her final state series any better. She won beam with a 9.225, vault with a 9.6 and then closed her effort with top honors on floor with a 9.625. She won the all-around comfortably ahead of DeKalb/Sycamore’s Anita Bell, 37.15 to 35.8.
“This was my best regional performance so far and my main goal is to make it to state in all-around because I didn’t make it last year,” Matesi said. “I’m just trying to stay consistent and working on small things to make my scores better.”
An ankle injury slowed Glenbard North senior Erin Panhorst a year ago, but it didn’t come into play on Wednesday as she placed third on vault with a 9.25 and fourth on floor with a 9.05.
“It’s my senior year, so I just went out there to have fun and when I do that I usually do well,” Panhorst said. “It was very exciting to place on vault and floor.”
Senior Brittney Posdal also qualified as an individual, taking second on beam with an 8.75. Sophomore Shayna Bott just fell short of advancing on floor with an 8.95 and bars with an 8.375 but could receive an at-large bid, as could Adina Crawford, who totaled an 8.45 on bars.
“I’m very happy with how the girls finished the meet today,” Nelson said. “I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Willowbrook junior Cassidy McFarlane, in her first season on the team, placed fifth on bars with an 8.575. The five best scores in each individual event advance to sectionals, so McFarlane’s season will continue next Tuesday at Glenbard West.
“I didn’t do as good as I usually do in practice, but it still was exciting,” McFarlane said. “I just know I could’ve done better though.”
McFarlane could also advance as an at-large all-arounder after she finished with a team-best 34.25. Freshman Riley McFarlane contributed a 32.825 and senior Christine Brzoska had a 29.225 for the Warriors.
Addison Trail did not have any gymnast advance to next week’s sectional, but the potential to qualify via an at-large bid remains. Sophomore Casey Boksha was the lone Blazer to compete as an all-arounder. She finished with a 33.75 and had the team’s top score on all four events, including an 8.75 on floor.