Lake Zurich, Bailey finish 2nd at sectional
Lake Zurich is on the cusp.
Lake Zurich fielded a girls gymnastics team on and off from 1979 to 2000. The team was then disbanded until three years ago when the Bears were able to field a complete team. They advanced to the sectionals last year, but failed to make it through to state.
On Wednesday at the Schaumburg sectional, Lake Zurich showed that it is all the way back, scoring a school-record 148.275. The Bears pushed meet favorite Prairie Ridge to the brink and just fell short to the Wolves, who won the title with a 149.325.
The good news for Lake Zurich is that its score is now the highest at-large score posted. There is just one sectional remaining and that will be competed Thursday evening at Mundelein.
"There is no bad news here," Lake Zurich coach Chelsie Groteleuschen said. "They came and did exactly what they had to do. They have been working hard in the gym. We just hope that they can do the same thing (at state)."
The Bears were led by Kayla Bailey, who won the vault with a 9.80 and the beam with a 9.50. She was also second in the all-around with a 38.10.
"It was awesome," said Bailey, who performed a Yurchenko half front-out on the vault. "It starts at a 10, so that helps. Our team is unbelievable. We have come so far this season."
Bailey also got huge help from Joanna Topa, who was sixth in the all-around with a 36.25. Ryana Kaufmann, who was fifth on the bars with a 9.25, Kelsey Rothas, Kayla Moses and Julia McDevitt also performed well for the Bears.
Fremd made a huge push at the end as the Vikings finished third with a 143.975. That moved Fremd into the second highest of the four at-large scores that will qualify for next weekend's state final meet at Palatine.
"I know it is a super-tough sectional tomorrow," Fremd coach Kacey Kronforst said. "It would be awesome if we could squeak on by. I am proud of the girls, I thought they performed real well today."
The Vikings got a nice night from Katie Vessell, who finished ninth in the all-around with 35.95 and was fifth on the beam with a 9.25. Sam Shirmer qualified for state on the bars with a 9.325 to finish fourth. Kacey Tokunaga, Cate Banzen and Abby Gallicho also did well for the Vikings.
Conant came up with a huge floor routine to catapult the Cougars to fourth with a 142.50. Right now the Cougars have the fourth best at-large score and Conant will be holding its breath that its score holds up.
Palatine, which won its fBarrington made a strong run despite being without Lauren Tenbrunsel, who injured her knee last week at regionals. Still the Fillies finished with 141.90.
"I couldn't be more happy for our girls," Barrington coach Jason Loeffler said. "The goal was to come in here and compete the best we could and we did just that."
Barrington's Brooke Husby was fourth in the vault with a 9.45, while Sofia Rosenzweig was seventh with a 9.375. Jade Moranetz was 12th in the all-around with a 35.875.
Schaumburg's Alexis Rothmeyer was fifth in the all-around with a 36.55 and second on the bars with a 9.425. Maine East's Afroditi Baltsas was eighth with a 35.975 and second on the beam with a 9.45. Hoffman Estates' Sol Serratos was fifth on vault with a 9.425. Prospect's Marina Andric was 10th in the all-around with a 35.925. Hersey sophomore Emma Hupp was third on the floor with a 9.425.
Sectional champion Prairie Ridge was led by all-around champion Gabriella Riley, who scored a 38.20.
She also won the bars with a 9.50 and the floor with a 9.675. Sydney Hallsten was third in the all-around with a 37.675 while Gracie Willis was fourth with a 37.00.