Glenbard East makes its mark
The only team Glenbard East had to really worry about during Monday's Glenbard South girls gymnastics sectional was itself.
The highest scoring regional team among the teams in the sectional, the Rams continued to make school history, earning the program's first sectional title and second consecutive berth into the IHSA state finals Feb. 21-22.
The Rams finished with 145.075 points to surpass two-time defending state champion Glenbard West's 143.225.
Wheaton Warrenville co-op followed with a 141.525, DeKalb-Sycamore co-op had a 141.325, Lake Park scored a 140.325 and Glenbard North had a 139.425.
Interestingly, only the last three teams scored better in the sectional than they did in last week's regionals.
"I'm impressed with us hitting a 145 at a sectional meet," Rams senior Kelsey Donovan said. "I feel it's a big deal with eight different judges. At invites this year we've done 142 and 143 and it's OK, but 145, that's the score to shoot for and that's the score that's realistic for us."
Starting off on beam, the Rams weren't at their absolute finest, but they were solid. After a brief team meeting they rolled through their final three events with a mission of ensuring destination Palatine.
"We told the younger girls that all we have to do is be happy and stay confident in ourselves," Rams junior Becca Honig said. "It's all about doing what we know what to do because that's all we needed to do. We had a lot of confidence last year. This year we came in making sure we were confident, but not too confident because that could turn out wrong."
Honig edged Donovan, 36.6 to 36.55 to take third and fourth place, respectively, in the all-around. The duo tied for second on floor while Donovan won vault and Honig was fifth on it. Sophomore Erin Donovan led the team on bars, while junior Kali Kartheiser placed sixth.
A waiting game begins for Glenbard West to see if it can advance as a team as an at-large qualifier. There are seven teams that still need to compete in sectionals later this week that scored a 143 or higher in their respective regionals. Only the top four highest at-large scores that don't win a sectional advance.
Junior Anna Diab won bars, beam, floor and took second on vault while winning the all-around with a 37.95 to lead the Hilltoppers.
Wheaton Warrenville co-op senior Jamie LaBue will have another crack at winning another beam title. The 2018 beam state champion took second place with a 9.4.
"I get a chance to possibly redeem myself," she said. "We'll see. I never got a chance last year since I had a stress fracture in my lower back and was injured most of the season."
She also qualified on vault, placing fifth with a 9.325 and remains alive for an at-large all-around berth with her 36.4. And her teammate, junior Emily Burnham, qualified on bars with a 9.15.
"I think today as a team we were all kind of nervous going in knowing it was possibly our last meet," LaBue said. "We just wanted to try to finish it up and have no regrets coming out of it and I think we just did the best we possibly could."
Lake Park's Racquel Suhr had a fantastic sectional, qualifying for state on her two events with a fifth place effort on floor with a 9.25 and fourth place on beam with a 9.125. Also qualifying for state for the Lancers is sophomore Paula Naronowicz, who was fifth on beam with a 9.1.
Glenbard North junior Sarah Ozeki snagged the fifth and final all-around berth with a 36.525.
"I just cleaned up a lot of things from regional," she said. "I made sure I had a nice body shape in all my skills, pointed toes, straight arms and legs, and everything and I think it really paid off today."
Willowbrook sophomore Bella Naumovsky continued to impress. The Warriors newcomer tied for third place on bars with a 9.2 and will make her state debut.