Stocki helps Downers Grove North unwrap a regional win

Brooke Stocki was donning her regular leotard during Monday's Neuqua Valley regional, although being clothed in Bubble Wrap might've been more appropriate.

The Downers Grove North senior has battled her share of injuries and an illness this season, but she was healthy and happy as she led the Trojans to a regional championship with 138.525 points to edge the runner-up host Wildcats, who finished with a 136.125.

Lyons Twp. was third with a 124.95 and Naperville Central had a 119.35.

"First it was my ankle, then it was mono and then I hyperextended my elbow," Stocki said. "I'm just happy to be able to compete again. We finally had our whole team competing the whole time."

Stocki's vault was the only event where she didn't water things down. Despite some alterations she still won bars and placed second on floor while also finishing second in the all-around with a 35.25.

"We wanted to compete tonight, but I think we were nervous because it was the first meet where it felt like it really mattered," she said. "We wanted to qualify for sectionals and I think that gave us our drive to do our best."

The Trojans relied on youth and depth to slip past the Wildcats. While junior Lauren Lucina contributed a third-place score on beam, the remainder of their key scored came from underclassmen.

Freshman Cherilyn Parrilli was third on floor and tied for fourth place on vault, while sophomore Gabrella Stellato was second on beam, Kenna Cinotte was second on vault and fellow sophomore Mia Bowers was fifth on floor and bars. Bowers was also fifth in the all-around with a 33.85.

"I told them to take what happened at conference and figure out what you did wrong and fix it," Trojans coach Linda Reynolds said. "They kind of did."

The Trojans finished in fourth place in Saturday's West Suburban Silver meet with a 133.625, and the Wildcats won the DuPage Valley Conference meet on Friday with a 134.95. None of that mattered Monday.

"We knew coming in that we could do this so I didn't want it to be postponed (due to weather)," Reynolds said. "I was worried it would get postponed and we'd lose our mental edge because I knew we were ready."

Neuqua Valley sophomore Jane Riehs won floor and vault on the way to the all-around title with a 35.55.

"I was disappointed that I fell on beam," Riehs said. "I went in not too confident so if I was more confident I probably would've hit, but I was happy with everything else."

The consolation of her falling was that senior Olivia Nelson ended up winning the event.

"It was surprising," Nelson said. "My warm-up was a little shaky, but I just always go in thinking I'm going to stick everything. If I think that way it will turn out that way so it's just going in with a confident mindset."

The Wildcats were confident that they could win the regional, and they received a lift with Amelia Wachtel taking fourth on beam and Baylee Modaff finishing third in the all-around while also finding taking second on bars, third on vault and fifth on beam, but it wasn't enough to catch the Trojans.

"Obviously, Downers Grove North is a pretty good team," Nelson said. "Throughout the meet we were comparing our scores to how we did at the DVC so we know we can still improve on things if can get to sectional."

The Wildcats will need their score to hold up for them to advance to the Hinsdale South sectional next Tuesday as an at-large.

Senior Lexi Swanson was the lone athlete from Naperville Central to qualify to compete in Darien. She took third on bars, barely missed on beam but could go via an at-large berth and was fourth in the all-around with a 34.475.

"I was more consistent than usual so I was happy with how I performed today," Swanson said. "I hit all four events and all four routines were good, but I still have a lot more to clean up and things I can put in at sectional to hopefully get to state."

Swanson realizes the end is near and wants to finish strong.

"I'm happy, but my body kind of hurts," she said. "I've been doing gymnastics for 14 years so it's a big part of my life, which is suddenly going to go away. So I'm thankful for everything it's given me, but I'm excited to move on to the next chapter of my life after finishing my gymnastics career on a positive note."