Diveney wins at state for Neuqua

Neuqua Valley might not have a high school boys gymnastics team, so senior Wes Diveney came out for the first time this season as an individual competitor.

"That's one of the reasons I ever started high school gymnastics was just to represent my school and make a name (for myself)," Diveney said.

Diveney did that and more at the individual state finals Saturday night at Hinsdale Central. Diveney became the school's first state champion in the sport as he shared the still rings title with Niles West junior Nomondalai Jamiyankhuu at 9.1.

"It feels great. It's the best feeling ever, definitely humbling," Diveney said. "Other gymnasts did well, but I felt like I really rocked it. I wasn't expecting first place, but I was definitely looking towards first place."

Wheaton co-op senior Ben Szot and junior Lucas Cooperman, Naperville Central senior Ryan Durkin, Naperville North senior Brandon Louise, Hinsdale South senior Adrian Siaw and Willowbrook freshman Adam Sousa also earned top-five all-state medals. They advanced to the finals by being among the top 10 scores during preliminaries Saturday's afternoon.

Three previous Neuqua gymnasts earned all-state medals also as individuals with Jake Hartman second on vault in 2010.

Diveney also was second on vault to Deerfield senior Heath Ogawa. Diveney will walk on as a rings competitor at Illinois-Chicago.

"He had some high expectations for himself," Neuqua coach Anthony Avella said. "In prelims he struggled (on rings), but we made some corrections and he hit it. He stuck his double (back flip dismount), which he wasn't doing all weekend, and this was the best time to do it."

"It's the best experience, sticking that double, honestly," Diveney said. "Placing first on rings, the excitement from that (I'll never forget)."

Szot and Cooperman combined for seven all-state medals after their all-around efforts Friday helped Wheaton co-op take second in team competition. They shared the final one with fourth-place 8.25s on high bar.

"I thought that was a perfect ending to how hard (Cooperman) and I work in the gym," said Szot, second in Friday's all-around to Jamiyankhuu's 52.70. "I was really happy with how I did. I hit all of my routines this weekend, which is quite amazing."

Szot added third on rings and parallel bars and fourth on horse. He also eighth on vault.

Cooperman also was second on parallel bars to Lyons Township sophomore Alex Janicki and fourth on floor for the second year in a row.

"Coming into this, I didn't even know if I was going to make finals on p-bars," Cooperman said. "I'm really happy. Second - that's great. Hopefully next year I can do even better."

Durkin was third on horse, 0.1 from first, after finishing fourth in 2014 for his first medal. He also was fourth on rings and fifth on parallel bars Saturday and 12th on high bar.

"I was hoping to do better than last year and I definitely did so I'm pumped," said Durkin, the Redhawks' first multiple all-stater on horse. "(Horse is) my best event, my favorite event. I love it."

Louise was third on vault in his first finals berth. The three-time state vault qualifier tied for 41st in 2014.

"Just to get back to state my senior year and actually medal made my year," Louise said. "I don't really care about the ranking. Top five is good enough for me."

Sousa was fifth on horse and also tied for sixth on parallel bars, 0.1 from fifth, and floor and tied for eighth on high bar.

Sousa was the only freshman to make event finals after an all-state fourth in all-around Friday. The Warriors were fourth in their first state team trip since 1991.

"I was extremely excited. Just being a freshman and coming out, I wasn't expecting too much," Sousa said. "We come out and make state as a whole team. It's exciting for me and I couldn't be more happy with how our season went."

Siaw finished third on floor after tying for sixth in 2014, 0.05 from fifth.

"So relieved. I've been hoping, thinking about this since last year," Siaw said. "Sixth place makes third feel a lot better (this time)."

Willowbrook senior Keawe Winstead and Glenbard West junior Paul Bonokollie tied for sixth on horse, Addison Trail senior R.J. Infusino tied for sixth on rings and Willowbrook senior Bret Golz tied for sixth on vault. All four were 0.05 from fifth place.

York senior Sam Bode was sixth on high bar and ninth on horse. Bode was named Senior Gymnast of the Year by the Illinois High School Gymnastics Coaches Association.

Glenbard West sophomore Eric Samuta was seventh on high bar. Hinsdale South sophomore Kwame' Lipscomb was 10th on floor.