Meyrick, Conant take second in own regional
Defending girls gymnastics state champion Prairie Ridge co-op began its quest to win another title on Wednesday night at the Conant regional.
While the Wolves had a few falls and wobbles, they still looked quite impressive.
Junior Nikki Baars led the way by winning the all-around (37.9) as Prairie Ridge won with 148.175 points in Hoffman Estates.
Conant junior Melynda Meyrick has definitely been on her game recently. The Cougar junior won the Mid-Suburban all-around (37.625) last Friday.
She continued to impress, taking second place in Wednesday's all-around to help the Cougars to a second-place finish with 137.40 points. Prospect was third with 135 points followed by Maine East (102.05).
Prairie Ridge joins Fremd and Palatine as automatic qualifiers to the Schaumburg sectional at 6 p.m. Monday.
Palatine (138.675) and Conant are holding the top two at-large spots, with only Thursday's Maine South regional remaining.
Prairie Ridge Co-op got off to a solid start on vault (37.4) and bars (37.4) but had a few hiccups on floor and beam.
The Wolves still secured the top regional score.
"We just had some misses that were unexpected," said Prairie Ridge coach Lee Battaglia, referring to a couple of miscues on floor and beam. "We just need to clean it up and we'll be ready on Monday."
Baars was clean from start to finish in her wins on the bars (9.525) and beam (9.525). She added second-place finishes on vault (9.65) and floor (9.4).
"I feel more confident in myself because I've been doing the routines," said the Cary-Grove junior, who was a contributing member for last season's state title run. "Last year was my first year and I didn't know what to expect. This year, I'm more prepared."
Senior Maddie Solka helped Prairie Ridge by taking third in the all-around (36.225). She added a fourth-place finish on vault (9.275) and was fifth on bars (9.25).
Wolves freshman Maddy Kim took second on beam (9.475) and fourth on bars (9.275) while junior Liz Sysol added a second-place finish on bars (9.35).
Freshman Kira Karlblom kept things rolling for PR by taking third on the vault (9.425) and floor (9.325). Senior Rebecca Ruff contributed a fifth-place finish on vault (9.25) and junior Alyssa Petko was fourth on beam (9.15).
Prairie Ridge co-op hit the top mark in state (150.40) at the Lake Forest Invite in early January.
The Wolves showed on Wednesday they once again will be the favorite at state.
"We know that we can hit that 150 mark, we just have to fix up our little mistakes and we'll be good," Baars said.
Meyrick, a junior, elevated her attack on Wednesday.
"As soon as I saw her I thought 'this girl is special'," said Conant coach Anthony Avela of his star junior, who competed in club her first two years before joining the Cougars' squad this season. "She's actually competing better as the meets get bigger."
Meyrick started her night by taking first on the vault (9.65).
She added a sixth-place finish on bars (9.225), third on beam (9.325) and another first on floor (9.425).
"The past two meets have been stepping stones to build up my confidence," said Meyrick of her strong showing. "It's nice and exciting, makes me proud - but it's also about the team."
Sophomore Bailey Bloom also gave Conant a lift by taking fifth on beam (9.0) and tying for fourth on floor (8.95). She placed fifth in the all-around (34.7).
"Beam has always been my strongest event," said Bloom who has made a nice comeback from an early season ankle injury. "I just feel confident up there."
Junior Mariana Vazquez-Rosa added a sixth-place finish on vault (8.975) for the Cougars.
Prospect senior Megan Donner found her comfort zone while tying for second on the bars (9.35).
The junior finished fourth in the all-around (35.85) to help lift the Knights.
Sophomore Rosie Barros also advanced for the Knights by tying for fourth on floor (8.95).
"It was the first time I was able to relax at a meet," Donner said of her big night. "I was really excited about my bar."