Geneva wins 4th straight regional crown
Geneva wasn’t looking to win a state title during Thursday’s Geneva regional.
As a heavy favorite, the Vikings were merely looking to advance to next Tuesday’s Wheaton Warrenville South sectional as a team and get as many of their individual gymnasts to qualify as well.
Mission accomplished, and then some.
Geneva breezed to its fourth straight regional title, all which took place in the comfort of its own Mack Olson gymnasium, with a 147.250, finishing nearly 10 points in front of runner-up U-46 co-op’s 137.75.
All six competitors for the Vikings qualified for sectionals as an individual in at least one event, with freshman Claire Ginsberg and senior Dominique Brognia leading the way. The duo qualified for sectionals in all four events and finished 1-2 in the all-around with Brognia narrowly upending her young teammate, 37.675 to 35.575.
Ginsberg won bars with a 9.4 and floor with a 9.7. Brognia claimed the beam title with a 9.475. Junior Megan Beitzel won vault with a 9.6 and contributed a qualifying 8.45 on bars.
“I was very happy with how we did today because we practiced very hard for this meet today,” Geneva senior Claire Scatterday said. “We just focused on sticking and cleaning up our routines so that helped a lot.”
Scatterday took second on beam with a 9.2 and tied for fourth on floor with a 9.
“We’re really focused on the team and they’ve been working hard on connections,” Geneva coach Kim Hostman said. “They lost a little focus on bars and made a couple mistakes so that’s something we’ll work on in these next few days.”
It was one of the only concerns Hostman had as the Vikings were brilliant on vault with a team total of 38.05 while finishing with a stellar 37.25 on floor, highlighted by Ginsberg and Brognia’s performances.
“They really got off to a great start sticking their landings on vault,” Hostman said. “And beam and floor are our best events and they support each other so well. If someone makes a mistake the next person erases it.”
Junior Grace Ginsberg placed fifth in the all-around with a 35.25 and also advanced on beam and vault, while sophomore McKenna Merges advanced with a fourth-place effort of 9.425 on vault.
Senior Alyssa Konkel battled through an ankle injury to place third in the all-around with a 35.825 for U-46 co-op. She finished in the Top 5 in every event, save for vault. Teammate Emalee Smith took third on floor with a 9.325.
“Last year (Alyssa) fell at sectionals which prevented her from going to state,” U-46 coach Tessa Aiossa said. “I think I took it harder than she did, but as a senior it’s great for her and she definitely has some redemption that’s needed.”
Glenbard East took third place with a 130.625, despite being without junior Olivia Carone (concussion).
Freshman Veronica Srey made a splash in her state series debut for the Rams, taking fifth in the all-around with a 35.5. She was second on bars with a 9.15 and had a 9.3 on vault. Senior Karen Sebby snagged the final bars qualifier for sectionals, taking fifth place with an 8.45.
“We finished where I thought we would and that’s even with a girl out so I was happy with how we performed in filling those missing spots,” Rams coach Jessica Bugajsky said. “And I’m very excited for Karen. She’s been working very hard the last three weeks and wanted to make it (to sectionals).”
Leyden (106.675) and Morton (106.125) saw their respective seasons come to an end.