Carmel an impressive champ at Conant Invite

Carmel Catholic competed in its first full gymnastics meet of the season on Saturday at the 40th annual Conant Invitational and the results looked very promising for the Corsairs.

Sophomores Lyndsey Basara (36.75) and Kyla Rapplean (35.90) went 1-4 in the all-around to power Carmel to the title with an impressive 144.85 points in Hoffman Estates.

"I called them my dynamic duo last year," said Carmel coach Sarah Mikrut Doyle. "And they have worked super hard and have continued to improve."

Wheaton Warrenville South co-op took second with 139.75 points, followed by Lake Zurich (138.90), Lincoln-Way co-op (137.75), and host Conant (132.45) nipping Hoffman Estates (132.40) for fifth place.

Basara had a brilliant afternoon in using a Yurchenko tuck full to take first on the vault (9.70), adding a second on the floor (9.4) and also looking solid on the bars (8.9) and beam (8.75).

"It's amazing for the first meet," said Basara. "We were all really nervous and we had to get out our jitters, but we did really well and we are proud of ourselves."

Rapplean also had a pretty nifty day by taking first on the beam (9.55), tying for fifth on the floor (9.05), and adding a solid mark on vault (9.15).

"We're a lot more confident," added Rapplean. "Last year we were freshmen and we weren't as confident, now that we are sophomores we know what it's all about."

Junior Izzy Kropiwiec was dealing with an injured left ankle but showed a bit of grit by taking second on the vault (9.45), adding a fourth-place finish on bars (9.15), and finishing sixth in the all-around 35.60. Freshman Clare Keane made her mark by taking second on the beam (9.4) in adding to a flashy opening score for the Corsairs.

"The team effort was outstanding," added Mikrut Doyle, whose team finished sixth at state last season. "I feel like they are at a better place strength wise and skill-wise at this point of the season than they were last year. It's a great place to start."

The Wheaton Warrenville South co-op is also looking to continue its momentum from last season when the Tigers placed eighth at the state meet.

Wheaton South was without junior Jamie LaBue, the defending state champion on beam, and also was missing senior Macy Smykal, but the Tigers sure looked impressive with their second-place finish.

"They are a pretty resilient group and they lean on each other," said Wheaton South coach Maureen Latimer, who returned her full team that made its first state appearance since 2000 last season. "We are just plugging away and working really hard."

Wheaton South did have sophomore Emily Burnham and she gave the Tigers a nice lift by taking first on the floor (9.45) and finishing eighth in the all-around (35.25), while senior specialist Jackie Kerth added a second-place finish on bars (9.3)

"This meet was about perseverance and our energy level helped us out," added Burnham.

Lake Zurich certainly looks improved. Last year the Bears' high mark was 137.30 and they have already surpassed that mark twice including Saturday when they scores a season-best.

Junior Joanna Topa and senior Carly Trebac led the way for the Bears on Saturday. Topa (35.95) took third in the all-around and also tied for fifth on the bars (9.0), while Trebac added a fourth-place finish on beam (9.15) and tied for fourth on vault (9.3).

"I definitely have improved," said Topa. "I have worked a lot harder, worked on competing and bonding with the team. Carly is doing really well and has added to our team."

Schaumburg freshman Alexis Rothmeyer has made an immediate impact for the Saxons this season and the she continued to impress on Saturday.

Rothmeyer started the meet with a fall on the floor, but then she turned it up a notch on the next three rotations.

Rothmeyer rebounded by taking first on the bars (9.45), tying for fourth on vault (9.3) and finishing with a solid beam (8.8) en route to a second-place finish in the all-around (36.0).

"I tried to put it past me," said Rothmeyer of her opening fall. "Overall I'm pretty happy with my day and felt like I had a lot more power today."

Hoffman Estates' Elyssa Wuerffel is another promising freshman who is making her mark.

Wuerffel's only blemish was a fall on the bars, otherwise the Hawks' rookie was flawless as she took third on the beam (9.25) and looked good on the vault (9.05) and floor (9.05), and finished fifth in the all-around (35.65).

"It was a pretty good day," said Wuerffel. "I still have room to improve, but I'm excited and the whole team is supporting each other."

Prospect sophomore Olivia Tader was slowed by a right ankle injury to start the season, but she offered a glimpse of her potential on Saturday with a pair of third place finishes on vault (9.4) and bars (9.25).

"I felt confident going in to today's meet. I had a good week of practice," said Tader, who finished fourth in the all-around at the Mid-Suburban League meet last season.

Conant sophomore Danielle Smith tied for fifth on the floor (9.05). The Cougars' depth has been dented by injuries and they only fielded four gymnasts on Saturday.

"All our scores counted so I was little bit nervous entering the meet," said Smith, whose team was still able to post a solid score in capturing fifth place. "After gaining experience last season, I'm feeling more confident this season."