Robert a winner in final meet at Naperville North
Performing in a home girls gymnastics invitational is always something special.
When it's your final one, and also one that you struggled in last year, it means even more.
Naperville North's Michaela Robert may not have taken home the all-around crown during Saturday's Naperville North Invite, but she was smiling after she won bars with a 9.625 and floor with a 9.35, while narrowly getting edged by Barrington junior Abby Hasanov in the all-around, 37.425 to 37.225.
"I'm very happy with how (the meet) went, especially since it was my last invite here," she said. "Last year was probably my worst meet of the whole season here, but today with all my friends and family here to support me, I was happy to do well for myself and for them."
Since the Huskies aren't as strong collectively this year as they were a season ago, Robert is focusing more on her individual goals. The Huskies placed 10th out of 12 teams with a 122.1.
"I think she's kind of got in her mind that she has some individual goals she wants to hit," Huskies coach Chris Stanicek said. "With us being kind of down this year and her senior year, she's focusing on what she needs to do to be successful. Her consistency has really gone up so we're pleased with that."
Behind Hasanov, Barrington breezed to the title with a 144.675. Glenbard West was a distant runner-up with a 138.825, while Hinsdale Central was third with a 136.35.
Hasanov also won vault with a 9.525 and beam with a 9.375.
"We've been off for about a month now, and I just told her to relax and let her body take over," Barrington coach Jason Loeffler said. "She was a lot more calm and collected and very focused today, and she's been a little under the weather and it's always tough competing when you're not feeling well."
Contributions up and down the lineup proved to be the difference for the Fillies. While Molly Blanke was ninth in the all-around with a 34.175, the team received a handful of particularly strong performances from Jada Jones, Hayley Nilles, Jessica Lee and Tara Schmumann. Jones scored a 9.275 on vault and 9 on floor, Nilles had an 8.975 on bars and 8.825 on vault, Lee earned a 9 on bars and tied for third on beam with a 9.025 and Schumann was fourth on floor with a 9.15.
"They're a lot of fun to watch and they're full of talent. It's not just one kid," Loeffler said. "It's not like Abby came in and took over the program. We're getting contributions from everybody, and it's cool to watch them all push each other in practice and give each other corrections."
Glenbard West was paced by Amber Broucek and Sarah DeStefano as they placed fifth and sixth, respectively, in the all-around with a 35.5 and 35.2. DeStefano was also fifth on bars with a 9.1 and tied for third on beam with a 9.025.
"I thought we could make a nice little jump once we got in our physical training and to the middle of the season," Glenbard West coach Carlos Fuentes said. "Sarah had one of her best meets overall and is becoming a complete all-arounder and Amber is about as steady as you can get."
Sophomore Allison Oakes added a fifth-place finish on beam for the Hilltoppers.
"These big meets are all new for her," Fuentes said. "She showed some steady nerves, and we were the first team to go on beam, and we went 5 for 5, so that was a big start."
Paced by Kara Ure's all-around score of 33.975, Palatine snagged fourth place with a 134.525 while a trio of DuPage County teams, including Naperville Central (129.6), Neuqua Valley (124.875), Glenbard East (122.225) were seventh, eighth and ninth.
Lea Savard led the Redhawks with a 32 in the all-around, while Isis Ruff led the Wildcats and Krasimira Ganeva led the Rams.
"We're still seeing much of the same that we've seen all season," Neuqua Valley coach Anthony Avella said. "We're still having a lot of uncharacteristic falls and waiting for Isis, Colleen (Moauro) and Emily (Jacobs) to all come together in the same meet."
Maddie Larock took third in the all-around for Prospect with a 36.55.