Girls gymnastics: Hersey's Kamysz is a state-meet hit

To Hersey senior Mackenzie Kamysz, it was just a matter of time before she hit it big.

And that big-time hit came on Friday in the girls gymnastic state meet preliminaries.

The Huskies senior put it all together in securing the fourth-best mark on the floor exercise (9.475), earning her advancement to Saturday's state finals at Palatine High School.

Kamysz qualified to the state meet her first three seasons on beam but missed making the cut for the finals each time. That just made her floor exercise success sweeter.

"That was one of her best floor performances I've ever seen," said Hersey coach Shannon Barrett. "She hit all three passes and I couldn't be more excited."

Kamysz always had the skills on the floor, so it was just a matter of polishing her tumbling and dance routines. And on Friday she was able to put it all together.

"It means so much," said Kamysz of her first state finals appearance. "I always felt pretty confident with my tumbling, but as the year went on I got stronger and stronger with my control. I was just able to let it go and really perform tonight."

Glenbard West also seems to be in pretty good control. Hilltoppers junior Maddie Diab won the all-around title (38.025), holding off a strong challenge by Maine South junior Caleigh Pistorius (37.95) and Prairie Ridge junior Ciara Ryan (37.90).

Junior Taylor Ramirez (37.575) supplied a fourth-place finish in the all-around to power Glenbard West to the top preliminary team mark of 149.555.

The Hilltoppers are in good position to win their first state title, which would also be their first state trophy. Three-time defending state champion Prairie Ridge co-op has a solid grip on second place with 148.75 points. Glenbrook South (146.50) is a distant third with New Trier (146.275) and Maine South (146.225) following close behind.

The state competition will continue Saturday, with finals in the individual events and team trophies starting at 2 p.m. at Palatine High School.

Teams can still add to their scores if individuals who advanced to Saturday's finals can increase their scores.

Prairie Ridge co-op seemed to be primed to make a run at a fourth consecutive state title after recording the highest team mark on bars (37.75). But three falls on beam, their final event, derailed the Wolves' attack.

"We were right where we wanted to be going into beam," said Prairie Ridge co-op coach Lee Battaglia of the Wolves sterling bar performance. "Beam is one of their best events, but three falls hurt. It just wasn't our night."

But it certainly was Ciara Ryan's night. The Crystal Lake South student qualified for finals on vault (9.525), tying for the ninth-best qualifying mark. She also made her presence felt on bars (9.5) and beam (9.6), and added a solid mark on floor (9.275) in taking third in the all-around.

"She had a good meet," said Battaglia of his junior standout. "I am very happy with how she performed."

Ryan was one of the four Wolves to hit it big on bars. Junior Kira Karlblom (9.5) advanced to finals by tying for second, followed by junior Maddy Kim (9.475), who advanced with a fourth-place finish. Junior Clancy Raupp also contributed a solid mark (9.275).

"It's really cool and I'm really happy to hit for the team," said Ryan.

Karlblom also tied for sixth on the floor (9.425) and tied for ninth on the vault (9.525) to advance on both events.

Rolling Meadows' Nicole Kane missed qualifying for finals on the bars last season by two spots, and she started this season by fracturing her left fibula in early December. The Mustangs sophomore brushed aside those setbacks on Friday by taking 10th on bars (9.375) and advancing to finals.

Kane admitted that her legs are still a little weak due to the fracture, but it didn't show when she landed her double-back dismount.

"It's crazy," said Kane, who attempted the double-back for the first time since her injury. "I didn't know if my legs could hold out on the dismount, but I landed it."

Conant's Kennedy O'Connor also had a big night in securing eighth place on beam (9.275). The Cougars sophomore used a back walkover, back handspring dismount to seal her routine.

"It means a lot," said O'Connor who elevated her performance this year and also was an all-around qualifier. "I practice a lot of routines, full set repetitions, and it feels good that all my hard work paid off."

Fremd seniors Melanie Ng and Abby Moran have been the anchors for the Vikings attack all season, and it was no different on Friday.

Ng (9.25) took ninth on beam and was followed by Moran (9.225), who tied for tenth. Both will compete in finals.

"I just wanted to have fun and enjoy the moment," said Ng, who will be making her first final appearance. "I was ready to go and I had a lot of confidence."

Moran earned a second consecutive finals appearance on beam.

"I didn't really have any expectations, I just wanted to have fun," said Moran, who recovered from a slight wobble on her full turn to seal her spot.

Fremd senior Annika Waller (9.025) participated on bars, with junior Gianna Christodoulopoulos having a solid night in the all-around, especially on bars (9.125) and beam (9.025).

Schaumburg senior Mikayla Vogt returned to the state meet for the first time since freshman year and ended on a nice note on vault (9.25) and floor (9.15).

"Freshman year I didn't realize the impact of making state," said Vogt. "But after my injuries and stuff it was nice to make it back my senior year."

Maine West's Megan Schore certainly had a nice debut season. The Warriors junior just missed qualifying for finals on floor with a 12th-place finish and also had a solid vault (9.4).

"It was so exciting and so much fun," said Schore of her state experience.

Barrington sophomore Lauren Tenbrunsel (beam) and Buffalo Grove sophomore Dagmara Sobolak (bars) also participated in the state preliminaries.