Labue shows change was the right decision

Jamie Labue still has a few years before she heads to college, but she's already made a huge decision about what she won't do there.

The Wheaton Warrenville co-op sophomore has decided not to pursue college gymnastics, but she isn't bidding farewell to the sport either.

That's definitely good news for Wheaton co-op as Labue showed during Wednesday's DuPage Valley Conference meet between Waubonsie Valley/Metea Valley co-op and host Naperville Central.

Labue won all four events and the all-around in leading her team to a convincing victory with 137.7 points. Waubonsie Valley/Metea Valley co-o scored a 129.4 and Naperville Central had a 125.6.

"I went to GymNasti (in Carol Stream) and I didn't want all that pressure of club anymore and realized I didn't want to do college gymnastics," Labue said. "So I decided to take it a little easier and try this."

Labue scored a 9 or better in all four events, finishing with a 37.25.

"It was a really good meet for me," she said. "It went better than my first meet, but I didn't compete bars last meet either."

Her decision to join the team has proven to be a good one as well.

"I like this a lot better because there's spirit everywhere," she said. "At club it was so pressurized and I was so nervous. Here it's so exciting and fun."

That doesn't mean the decision wasn't a difficult one. Fortunately she had some of her peers at GymNasti, including teammate Emily Burnham.

"It was really tough, but with all of my best friends there deciding to switch to high school was easier," she said. "That way none of us would be left by ourselves at GymNasti."

Labue was one of nine gymnasts that coach Maureen Kermend had compete.

A different gymnast posted the team's highest score after Labue on all four events. Maggie O'Hara was awarded an 8.35 on beam, Jill Horvatin had an 8.7 on vault, Maura Clark earned an 8.8 bars and Burnham scored a 9 on floor.

"We have some good depth," Kermend said. "We've put in some skills early so they're not quite hitting yet."

Melissa Martin paced Waubonsie Valley/Metea Valley co-op by taking second in the all-around with a 32.2.

"Bars have still been rough," Martin said. "I have all the skills but need to put them altogether, but overall it was an improvement form the first meet, but I still have a long way to go."

Martin also tied Jessica Houghton with an 8.55 for second place on beam, while Emma Holtan was third on floor with an 8.4. Thalia Bowen also competed as an all-arounder with a 30.6.

"It's a really good start for us at 129, which is almost where we ended last year," Waubonsie Valley/Metea Valley co-op coach Phil Gilmer said. "I think we're capable of getting at least 135 or higher, but we have got to clean up routines."

Naperville Central scored slightly higher than it did in its debut a week ago.

Lexi Swanson edged Rose Fritz 31.7 to 31.5 for bragging rights in the all-around for the Redhawks, while Hailey Haumann added a 30.3 and Maddie Surin scored a 30.0.

"I actually thought we did better than last time," Naperville Central coach Glen Reimers said. "We changed routines a little bit, but for the most part nothing different, but I think we're actually ahead of where we were last year. It's just not showing in the score yet."