Glenbard West's Diab wins third all-around state championship

Maddie Diab won her third all-around title Friday during the IHSA girls gymnastics state finals with a season-best performance to put Glenbard West in position to win its second consecutive state team title Saturday.

The senior earned a 38.55 while advancing to the individual event finals in all four events. She averaged 9.6375 per event.

"It was my last time competing with this team and we have done so much together and been through so much so I just wanted to go out and do it for my team," she said. "Hitting my routines and winning the all-around was just the icing on the cake."

Diab became the fourth gymnast to win three all-around titles, joining Lyons Twp.'s Janne Klepek in the 1980s, Fremd's MaryAnne Kelley in the 1990s and Fremd's Mary Burke in 2005, 2007 and 2008.

The Hilltoppers have scored 148.85 points and have all but wrapped up the championship trophy. Runner-up New Trier is well off the pace at 147.325 and in a bigger battle for that second-place trophy against Maine South's 147.25 and Glenbrook South's 147.

"It's so enjoyable," Hilltoppers senior Katherine Hoban said. "We all really wanted to do well, and having seven seniors, it was just a goal of ours to come out as a team one more time and do the best we could. All the hard work we've done this season has paid off, and this is a part of our lives that we'll have forever and it's crazy to think that it's over."

While the competition for the state trophy won't be official until late Saturday afternoon, it's just about a done deal for the Hilltoppers. New Trier and Maine South are clinging to only mathematical life, and the Hilltoppers still have more opportunities to increase their score Saturday.

"I've been very fortunate to be on a team that not only makes it to state every year but does well," Diab said. "I'm excited to finish it up. We didn't have the regional or sectional meet we were hoping for and there were a lot of things we wanted to clean up, and most of it came together today."

Maia Lee and fellow senior Taylor Ramirez also advanced to the individual finals on bars and beam, respectively.

Competing in the state meet for the first time, Glenbard East is in seventh place with 143.8 points.

Sophomore Kali Kartheiser qualified for the finals on bars with a 9.425 and floor with a 9.225.

"It feels great to get there," she said. "I've worked so hard to get where I am and to have my team supporting me, and to compete and not just cheer, really helped. They were behind me which was great."

Kartheiser led the team in the all-around, tying for ninth with a 37.0. Junior teammate Kelsey Donovan added a 36.1.

"I'm pretty glad with where we ended up," Kartheiser said. "Our biggest goal was to make it to state and we made it. I'm so proud of us to make it. It means a lot for us to be here."

Wheaton Warrenville co-op's Macy Smykal advanced to the individual finals for the first time with a 9.275 on floor.

"The competition was really hard today," the senior said. "There were a lot of girls, and with everyone so talented here and knowing that I'm one of the Top 10 in my best event is really exciting. I'm coming here tomorrow and just going to be even more excited and try my hardest and see what happens."

Downers Grove South senior Abby Carlson's 9.525 on bars was the third-best score during preliminaries. That will allow her to battle Diab, Lee, Kartheiser and six other girls for a state title.