Hoban goes, Glenbard West goes
They haven't nicknamed her "The Table-Setter," but maybe they should.
Glenbard West junior Kathleen Hoban is one of those gymnasts who has flown under the radar, but upon closer inspection one would recognize just how huge of an impact she makes for the Hilltoppers.
She did it again during Wednesday's Glenbard West regional, where the Hilltoppers breezed to victory with 149.95 points. Geneva placed second with a 139.25 and was followed by Batavia's 130.75 and Addison Trail's 121.9.
Hoban was the Hilltoppers' first competitor on vault, floor and beam, and she scored a 9.05 or higher in each event to rouse the team.
"When she hits we all get our positive energy and know that we got this," Glenbard West junior specialist Abby Myers said. "She kind of relaxes everyone with that kind of start, but we know we still have to give 100 percent. When she hits, though, it calms everyone down and it gets us going."
She relished her role in setting the table once again.
"Katherine Hoban stood out today," Glenbard West coach Carlos Fuentes said. "She had to be the table-setter on vault, beam and floor and she put a 9 on three events. She's been like that all season and we love having her. And it's not like she's the worst of the five. We just know we can count on her the most."
And they can count on Maddie Diab to continue to be amazing. She won all four events to post a 38.725. How impressive was her score? Only six gymnasts have scored higher in the history of the IHSA state finals.
"We talk about the bookends and how you want to start and how you want to end," Fuentes said. "We get that kind of start from Katherine and then Maddie to finish. Maddie turns it on in the postseason again and has her highest all-around score of the year."
Anna Diab and Taylor Ramirez followed Maddie Diab for the top three all-around totals while Hoban added to the team vault score. Myers and Maia Lee contributed key scores on a pair of events each, all four that were top-five worthy.
"We have those top three competitors in Anna, Maddie and Taylor, but we still need the fourth spot to be there," Myers said. "So we know we've got to put in as much effort as anyone else and to just be there with them is a huge accomplishment."
Addison Trail freshman Francesca Scarbaggio was the Blazers' lone sectional qualifier, placing fifth in the all-around with a 32.375.
"I didn't know if I had a chance because Glenbard West is such an amazing team and I had never seen Batavia and Geneva and they're really good too," she said. "So I didn't think I was going to place, so it was a nice surprise, a good accomplishment."