Geneva celebrates sectional crown

A year ago Geneva found itself waiting.

On Tuesday the Vikings were celebrating.

Geneva didn't count any falls and used clutch performances to win the Wheaton Warrenville South girls gymnastics sectional and make school history in the process.

Last February the Vikings finished in third place in the Glenbard West sectional and had to wait to see if it would qualify as an at-large team. It did.

On Tuesday there was no waiting required. Their 146.525 points easily surpassed the 143.15 posted by St. Charles co-op.

"Whew," Geneva coach Kim Hostman said. "I really couldn't have asked anything more from the girls. We went 20 for 20, but we missed some connections. We hit all our routines and only had some execution errors, which we'll work on cleaning up before state. They're so excited."

Claire Ginsberg continued her unforgettable debut season, winning the all-around with a 37.9, while posting sectional-best scores of 9.5 on vault, 9.55 on beam and 9.7 on floor.

Her excellence earned her a phone call from oldest sister, Jenna, a senior on last year's team.

"This is so great," she said. "I already talked to Jenna. Everything's set for us and hopefully we can go (to Palatine) and do big things."

Dominique Brognia and Grace Ginsberg contributed important all-around scores for the Vikings, while Megan Beitzel's 9.375 on vault and Claire Scatterday's 9.15 on beam proved to be big as well.

"We're extremely excited," Brognia said. "The judging was a lot harder tonight, but we expected that. The important thing is we didn't have any falls. We pretty much did exactly what we wanted to tonight."

St. Charles didn't finish strong as it counted multiple falls on beam, its final event of the competition.

"It was like the domino (effect)," St. Charles coach Amy Lill said. "It happens. It's disappointing, but at least we're still in the game. It doesn't mean we're done, it just means we have to wait two more days."

St. Charles has the third best at-large team score and the top four scoring teams that don't win a sectional also advance. Although two sectionals remain, based on team scores this season, the 143.15 points St. Charles scored could be enough.

Sophomore Rachel Dugan led St. Charles, taking fifth in the all-around with a 36.55. She also tied for fifth on vault with a 9.35 and took second on bars with a 9.225. Senior Kelly Gorniak was third on floor with a 9.425.

Wheaton Warrenville co-op was third with a 140.925 but saw its team season come to an end.

"We had some mistakes where we couldn't afford them," Wheaton Warrenville coach Maureen Latimer said. "They did really well, but made enough mistakes where it's the difference between maybe being one of the teams to make it or not."

The good news for Wheaton Warrenville is that junior Lenna Klein took second on vault with a 9.425, while senior Audrey Channon, took fourth in the all-around with a 36.575, second on beam with a 9.475 and fifth on bars with a 9.125 to punch her ticket to Palatine.

"I'm beyond excited to get another chance to get to state," Channon said. "Last year I was sick for the end of the state series, so it feels so good to go on my favorite events and as an all-arounder."

Glenbard North took fourth with a 138.9 while sophomore Allison Wahrman placed second in the all-around with a 36.825 and won bars with a 9.275.

"Everything went pretty well," Wahrman said. "I could've done better on vault and didn't throw my hardest tricks on floor because of my ankle injuries. Beam and bars also could've been better, but still it was a good meet."

Glenbard West sophomore Amber Broucek took third place on beam with a 9.425.

"I think I've only had one fall on beam all season so it's been very consistent for me," she said. "I hope to stick it again and to get to finals (at state)."

The U-46 co-op placed sixth with 133.1 points. It once again lost senior Alyssa Konkel to an injury but also had reason to celebrate as freshman Ashley McKee tied for second on bars with a 9.225.

"She's been working her butt off all season so she deserves this moment," U-46 coach Tessa Aiossa said. "I'm so proud of her accomplishment. Her being able to be recognized at this level is awesome."