Rolling Meadows takes title at Prospect

Nicole Kane just wanted a little change to her routine.

Kane, who is a senior, finished second in the state last year in uneven parallel bars and third in the state the prior year. She said that after working the same skills during her performance, she wanted to shake things up a little.

But instead of choosing a skill that is normally performed in girls gymnastics, Kane went a step further.

She opted to put in a Helay. It is a full pirouette move on one of the bars and it is normally performed by men's gymnastics on the high bar.

"It worked," said a smiling Kane, who attempted it for the first time last Thursday, but without success.

"I was more aggressive when I got up to the high bar. I tapped really hard and was swinging really fast. I actually hit the low bar. But I was going so fast I kept going and flew over."

Kane, who won the event with a 9.50 at the Knight Gymnastics Invitational at Prospect on Saturday said that she need a change to her bars performance.

"I had been getting bored with my previous routine," said Kane, who was second in the all-around with a 36.20. "I tried it at club and decided to go with it here. It is really fun to do."

Kane's performance, wasn't the only standout one for Rolling Meadows. Melina Moreno, who won the floor with a 9.65 and was third on the vault with an 8.80

"It has always been my favorite event," said Moreno, who is a freshman. "I am getting used to the dance part of it."

The duo, along with Brooklyn Hextall, who was fourth in the all-around with a 35.20, and Caitlin Widawski, who scored a 34.125 on the all-around, helped the Mustangs win the invite with a season-best 142.175.

"We did very well," Rolling Meadows coach Michael Costa said. "We went 13-for-16 just like last Thursday, but we were better today."

Also very good on Saturday was Buffalo Grove's Leah Oyen, who helped her team score a 131.925. The sophomore hit her Yurchencko vault to score a 9.30. She also won the all-around with a 36.65 and scored a 9.60 on the floor.

"I opened sooner and put my arms back more after the round off going on to the vault," said Oyen, who fell on her first vault attempt.

"That helped a lot. I felt the landing more."

Schaumburg was without Alexis Rothmeyer and Amelia Mazeikis, who were both ill. Despite that the Saxons, who were led Charlie Baumann, scored a 132.825.

"Our girls stepped up today," Schaumburg coach Amber Mirski said. "It is good timing because they should be in good shape for conference and for state."

Prospect, which finished second with a 138.33, was led by Marina Andrick, who won the beam with a 9.40 and Julia Cunniff, who was third in the all-around with a 35.40.

"I don't like the beam," Andrick said. "I just pull myself together to get it over with. Today I got it over with pretty good."

Elk Grove scored a 108.25 and was led by Rachel Ford.