Hersey wins first girls gymnsatics regional in 25 years
Hersey's girls gymnastics team needed a big finish at the Maine South regional.
And that's exactly what the Huskies got on Thursday night in Park Ridge.
Trailing host Maine South entering the final two events, the Huskies used a strong floor (35.825) and beam (35.025) to edge the Hawks 138.575-138.45 and secure their first regional title since 1991.
Elk Grove took third with 132.025 points followed by Maine West 120.85.
Hersey joins Prairie Ridge, Fremd and Barrington as automatic qualifiers for the Schaumburg sectional at 6 p.m. on Monday.
Palatine and Maine South secured the two at-large bids and will also join the four regional winners.
"I'm ecstatic," said Hersey coach Shannon Barrett of her team's victory. "I was a nervous wreck all day but I'm really proud of the girls. We started on our weakest event on bars but the girls really picked it up from there."
Senior Alysa Zurlo set the tone for the Huskies on floor by taking second place (9.225).
Sophomore Mackenzie Kamysz (9.0) and senior Maggie Barton (9.0) also provided big scores.
"Floor has been our comfort zone all season," said Zurlo, who also took fourth on the vault (8.875) and fourth in the all-around (34.525). "We executed and had fun. We've worked so hard and it feels really good to accomplish our goals."
Hersey sealed its victory on the beam with Kamysz (9.225) taking second and junior Alli Hiedrich (8.925) third.
Barton gave the Huskies a huge lift.
She started the first rotation with a first-place finish on bars (8.6) and finished third in the all-around (34.7).
Kamysz also had an impressive night, taking second in the all-around (35.1) and adding a third-place finish on bars (8.475).
Hiedrich adding a fifth-place finish on bars (8.4).
"It amazing," said Kamysz of the Huskies' title run. "It wasn't our best meet but we made it through. We were all there to pick each other up."
Maine South started strong on the vault with junior Sara Ignoffo taking first (9.3).
She was followed by freshman Caleigh Pistorius (9.1) who tied for second and junior Erin Clements (8.825) who was fifth.
But the Hawks struggled a bit on bars before finishing solid on beam and floor.
"It was our worst bar routine of the season," said Maine South coach Tessa Robinson. "I'm proud of how the girls responded on beam and floor."
Maine West senior Marissa Gradei was strong from start to finish as she took top honors in the all-around with a 36.15.
Gradei started her night with a fourth-place finish on bars (8.425).
She then caught fire, tying for second on the vault (9.1) and capping her night with a pair of first-place finishes on beam (9.25) and floor (9.375).
Gradei struggled on beam for most of the season but she was clean on Thursday.
"I definitely had my struggles on beam this season but it all came together tonight," said Gradei, who won the Central Suburban North all-around title last Friday and enters the sectional meet with plenty of momentum. "I've been putting in the hard work and it definitely paid off."
Freshman Jill Valente gave Elk Grove a big lift. The Grenadiers freshman took second on the bars (8.55) and added a fourth-place finish on floor (9.1).
"I felt proud of how I performed tonight," Valente said. "I have definitely improved on bars and it felt good to hit."