Glenbard West, Lake Park earn at-large berths at state meet
The big number heading into Thursday's Glenbard West sectional was 141.5.
Because of the strong level of competition - with five of the six teams capable of reaching that score - the chance to advance to state without winning the sectional was there for the taking.
Four teams scored higher than a 141.5, but only three teams punched a ticket to Palatine.
Those teams included DeKalb/Sycamore co-op, which won with 147.525 points, along with runner-up Glenbard West's 146.175 and Lake Park's 144.35.
Despite scoring a season-high 141.825, St. Charles co-op fell short when the Lancers secured the final at-large qualifying spot, earning their first trip to state since 2003.
"It feels so good, we're all so excited," Lake Park senior Izzy Shaw said. "Our goal all season long has been to go out and have fun, and this is just an incredible feeling."
Shaw took fifth in the all-around with a 36.875, was fourth on vault with a 9.6 and earned an at-large berth on bars. Also for the Lancers, Daniella Pelagrino qualified on beam with an 8.925 and floor with a 9.2 and Nina Gallichio moved on with a 9.4 on bars and 8.85 on beam.
The Hilltoppers were nothing short of amazing on vault with a 38.025. Amber Broucek, Alison Oakes, Sarah DeStefano and Maddie Diab all qualified for state on vault with Diab leading the way with a jaw-dropping 9.925. Only Conant's Allison Buckley has scored higher at the state meet than Diab's total with a 9.95 in 2006.
"It felt pretty good, but I didn't think I'd score that high because it was a sectional," Diab said. "This was a hard meet with a lot of good people here."
It's the fifth time the Hilltoppers have advanced to state in the past 11 seasons under coach Carlos Fuentes.
"Who wouldn't want to win a sectional? Winning would've been great, but this is the highest we've scored as a sectional team so this is the best Glenbard West team we've ever had," Fuentes said. "We went 19 for 20, which is exactly what Glenbard West does, so we're excited to take our team to state."
Wheaton Warrenville co-op took fifth with a 138.45. While it was buried deep in the team standings, four of its gymnasts had reason to celebrate because they advanced to state. Julie Galo led the way, qualifying as an all-arounder with a 36.175 as well as on vault.
"I worked so hard all season, so it's nice to see it pay off," she said. "I came in here with no expectations really. If this was going to be my last meet I wanted it to be fun because I've been happy with how our team has done the whole season."
She'll be joined by fellow senior Petrina Chino, who qualified on bars with a 9.325, as well as freshmen Jackie Kerth and Macy Smykal, both of whom qualified as at-large candidates on the vault and beam, respectively.
Glenbard North senior Allison Wahrman will need to delay transitioning to track because she qualified as an all-arounder with a 36.8 as well as on vault and bars. Sophomore teammate Delaney Guy will join her as an at-large candidate on beam.
"Now I have someone to practice with next week," Wahrman joked. I was really hoping to make it to state again. I knew I could do it, but this was a really tough sectional, so I was really happy to do it."
The last area qualifier was Addison Trail's Kennedy O'Neill. The junior placed 10th in the all-around with a 35.825, but it was just good enough to send her to Palatine.