Girls gymnastics: Young Carmel gymnasts vault to prominence

Carmel Catholic freshman Lyndsey Basara and sophomore Izzy Kropiwiec landed in the vault finals of the girls gymnastics state meet on Saturday afternoon, and both walked off Palatine's mats with smiles.

Madison Hickey of DeKalb Co-op won vault with 9.75, but the difference among the 10 competitors in the event was just .25.

Basara scored a 9.525, tying her with Glenbrook South's Jenna Hartley for fifth place.

"It feels amazing," Basara said. "It's just a brand new experience. It was really intense. I had my teammates help me through it. I didn't think I would get a medal. I knew there was a lot of great girls doing vault. As I was looking at their scores (Friday), I knew the competition would be really hard. I just knew I had to try my best, and whatever was going to happen would happen."

Kropiwiec wasn't far behind her teammate, as her 9.50 put her in a four-way tie for seventh place with Maine South's Caleigh Pistorius, Prairie Ridge's Kira Karlblom and Glenbrook South's Sheena Graham.

"It feels good, but I could've done better," Kropiwiec said. "I put up my hardest work out there. It's going to make me to push more over the summer in my training. I just want to get back to the same place."

Another freshman, Emma Hallin of Mundelein, tied for 10th place on balance beam with Glenbrook South's Bebe Haramaras (8.65). Jamie Labue of Wheaton Co-op won the event with a (9.525).

"Today (I wanted) more to have fun and show off," Hallin said. "It was the last meet of the year. I know what to expect now, and I have a lot to work on. I'm glad to have the experience."

Glenbard West's Maddie Diab was the all-around champion with a 38.025. She also earned top honors on the floor exercise with a 9.725. Prairie Ridge's Maddie Kim chalked up the top bars routine with a 9.6.

In the team standings, Glenbard West broke the three-year title run of Prairie Ridge. The Hilltoppers totaled a 150.05, while Prairie Ridge was second (149.1). Glenbrook South took third (146.6), followed by New Trier in fourth (146.275), Maine South in fifth (146.225) and Carmel in sixth (145.275).