St. Charles co-op claims regional crown
St. Charles co-op wasn't at its best during Tuesday's Geneva girls gymnastics regional, but it was good enough to advance.
That's all that really matters right now.
"It was nice, especially after how the first three events went," St. Charles co-op coach Amy Wojdelko said. "It wasn't our best, but it is what it is. We need to hit beam, but it wasn't that bad."
A strong finish on floor help generate some optimism for next week's sectional as it lifted the team score to 139.6 points, easily better than runner-up Geneva's 135.175.
"It's vital. It gets down to do or die and you're going to get it now or going to be done," Wojdelko said. "The pressure is going to be there and we'll see how we do under pressure. At conference I couldn't be there for a medical reason and they pulled it together without me actually there. I could've just went home."
Wojdelko seriously wouldn't have wanted to do that, because then she would've missed Devon Ross, Danielle Buoy, Grace Levita and Emma Grace Redmond-Mattucci perform in the floor experience. Ross, who was coming off an injury, took fifth place, while the other three took the top three spots with Redmond-Mattucci winning with a 9.4.
Redmond-Mattucci also took home top honors on vault with a 9.2.
"It's a more comfortable setting since we've been to Geneva a couple times now," she said. "It wasn't my best meet, but I'm proud that I pulled it together at the end, and I'm really proud of my teammate, Grace Levita, because she's worked so hard to get this and totally deserves this."
Levita edged Redmond-Mattucci, 35.975 to 35.35 to win the all-around. Levita was also regional champion on beam with an 8.775 and bars with a 9.05.
"I was definitely really excited. This was my best meet of the season," Levita said. "The team really pulled it together after the first couple of events didn't go as well as we would've hoped for, but we definitely pulled it together for floor and brought up the energy as a team."
Other key contributors for the co-op who also advanced to the Glenbard West sectional on Feb. 11, included Danielle Buoy in the all-around, floor and beam, Ross on floor and Mychaela Guy on vault.
Injuries may be commonplace in gymnastics, but rarely to they sideline four gymnasts from competing in a regional. The Vikings were without Julia Grootens, Lily Chapman, Kelly Frank, and their best gymnast Claire Ginsberg, while Gracie De Vita and Holly Friedel competed in a limited capacity.
"The challenge that we've had to go through this year, I've never gone through before with this many injuries," Geneva coach Kim Hostman said "It's literally been 6 of them and I only hold 8 (on the varsity roster)."
Paige Beitzel led the Vikings, taking fifth in the all-around with a 33.35 and qualified for sectionals. Friedel qualified on beam while De Vita and Sophia Hostasa did so on bars and Molly Lambillotte and Samantha DelGuidice earned berths on vault.
"These kids stepped up and did an amazing job," Hostman said. "We went 5-for-5 on every event except for beam where we had 2 falls. I couldn't ask for anything more from the kids. They really stepped up and did their job and I was hoping to go 135 or higher and we still have got a chance to go as an at-large (to sectionals)."
Addison Trail took third place with a 128.275.
Kennedy O'Neill led the Blazers, taking third in the all-around with a 35.05. She also qualified in the every event, save for vault. Teammate Terra Garcia also qualified for sectionals with an 8.35 on beam.
"We're competing with just five girls and it was tremendous with tenacity like you wouldn't believe, which was beautiful to see," Addison Trail coach Kyle Padera said. "It's been a struggle and a long season, but I couldn't be happier for Tara and Kennedy."
York finished in fourth place with 124.075. None of the Dukes qualified for sectional play.