Girls gymnastics: Glenbard West's Dian looking for a fun finale
Sooner than even a bright young lady like Anna Diab can imagine, gymnastics will go from being her life to something she used to do.
That's the reality. Time flies when you're having fun, especially when flying in the air with seemingly flawless execution.
The Glenbard West senior may not have the opportunity to add to her impressive collection of accomplishments in the states series as a Hilltopper, but she can keep the gymnastics party going just a little longer.
Diab is stepping away from competitive gymnastics at the end of this abbreviated high school season and is looking forward to beginning her next chapter in life.
"I don't know how I'm going to feel (when gymnastics are over), but I think I'll be a little upset," she said. "I don't think it has hit me that I'm going to be done with gymnastics. It has been a part of my whole life. I really started when I was two (years old). It's change, but I think change is also something I'm looking forward to. I get to go on with a different part of my life and step away."
Not so fast. There's a little time remaining for Diab to enjoy doing what she's done so magnificently well in the past three years, helping the Hilltoppers to countless victories, including a pair of state titles. While a gymnast can always win more, there's no chase of trophies or individual titles this year. So, Diab's truncated resume would include her vital role as an all-arounder in her freshman state debut and as a hobbled one-event stud. Last year she was runner-up in the all-around (37.75) and floor exercise (9.7) and tied for fourth on bars (9.425) at Palatine.
As a freshman at state in 2018, Anna, the Illinois High School Gymnastics Coaches Association's Rookie of the Year, placed seventh in the all-around while older sister Maddie Diab (Iowa State) captured the all-around title. Behind those efforts, the Hilltoppers were able to withstand the Prairie Ridge co-op dynasty, 150.05 to 149.1.
"She is flattered to be mentioned in her sister's (Maddie) name and what she accomplished in terms of when Maddie was here," Hilltoppers coach Carlos Fuentes said. "When Maddie was here, Katherine Hoban and that crew all shared leadership responsibilities while Anna has been a leader on her own so she might have stronger leadership qualities than Maddie."
The kind of qualities that are desperately needed when teammates are lost in the haze of uncertainty due to a pandemic that continues to alter lives in unprecedented fashion.
"I can't tell you how many positive things from parents I've heard about how great of a role model she is," Fuentes said. "Especially the last year, becoming the team's top all-arounder, the leader to pull us and help us have fun last year and now one more time."
There's no need to remind Diab to appreciate her final weeks in the gym. She's already doing it.
"I want to see her enjoy her last year of her gymnastics career," Fuentes said. "She has a few more times to be Anna the gymnast and to continue to lead this team and leave her final mark on the program as being the hardworking kid who grew from a little freshman to this strong senior year."
With no more trophies to chase, Diab can pursue other dreams, including college where she plans on studying business.
"Gymnastics taught me work ethic and time management just because I've spent so much time in the gym," she said. "It's given me a good balance. I've learned a lot about how to work well to get things done which is important for my future."