Girls gymnastics: Barrington, Palatine's Eckels shine at MSL meet
The Mid-Suburban League girls gymnastics finals at Wheeling Saturday was the end of a couple of long droughts.
Barrington won its first team title since 2000, while Palatine's Alyssa Eckels became the Pirates' first all-around champion since 2008 to end a quick and yet satisfying season for all teams and participants.
Barrington had a week to remember.
The Fillies beat Conant last Monday in a dual meet to capture the West title and go 5-0 on the season. They came back Saturday to score a season-best 146.65 to win their third MSL conference championship.
"We just carried the momentum during the week," Barrington coach Jason Loeffler said. "It was our goal to end with our best. I am so happy with they way we performed."
Loeffler said this whirlwind season was unconventional, yet satisfying.
"It has been the longest, shortest season we have had," Loeffler said. "Just to get through this season, and be as successful as we have been, I am proud of the kids."
Barriington was led by freshman Ellie Marquiz, who was second in the all-around with a 36.90. She also won the floor with a 9.65 to edge out teammate Sophie Rosenzweig's 9.60.
Brooke Husby won the vault with a 9.60 and Adrianna Merzyn won the bars with a 9.30. The Fillies also got huge performances from Ember Stennett, Jade Moranetz, Anika Patel and Sofiabella Amirante.
Eckels had been competing in gymnastics since she was three. She said that winning the all-around title in this crazy season was something she never expected.
"I am super excited," Eckels said. "It is really a dream come true. We came into this season thinking this is going to be a lame season. It was going to be so short. It was going to be so hard to get our skills back."
Eckels, who is a senior and won't compete in college, had the meet of her life. She won the all-around title without winning an individual event, which is a rare feat. She was tied for sixth on the vault (9.45), tied for fourth on the bars (8.90), second on the beam (9.40) and fifth on the floor (9.525).
"We worked hard in the gym and got all those skills back," Eckels said. "It was truly a team effort."
Eckels helped the Pirates to a second-place finish with a season-high 144.95. Jodie Waddington, Elly Nielsen, Kaci Wimer, Samantha Morgensen and Riley Strahl came up big for the Pirates.
"We got a high score and seventh in school history," Palatine coach Terry Theobald said. "It was good day. Every meet we went up. We peaked at the right time."
Conant was third with a 143.23 and East champion Prospect was fourth with a 138.005.
Conant's Danielle Smith was third in the all-around with a 36.85, Buffalo Grove's Olivia Tangora fourth with a 36.475 and Hoffman Estates' Elyssa Wuerffel was fifth with a 36.30.
Prospect's Emily Gianfrancesco won the beam with a 9.50.