Girls gymnastics: Lake Zurich lands another NSC title
For the second straight year, Lake Zurich won the North Suburban Conference girls gymnastics meet that was held at Lake Forest High School on Saturday.
The Bears chalked up the top spot with a season-high 147.05, Stevenson was second (144.8), Lake Forest third (133.475) Warren fourth (128.1), Mundelein fifth (127.55) and Libertyville sixth (127.45).
The NSC meet was staged as a two-part triangular due to COVID-19 protocols.
"I'm proud of the girls that they put it together at the right time," Lake Zurich coach Chelsie Groteleuschen said. "They came out and showed the judges what they've been working on in practice. There was no pressure, do what you're doing every single day and just enjoy the moment.
"It was a weird season and a lot of the teams don't have the girls they typically have out there. For this year, I'm just happy that some girls had some closure and we knew that we were a talented team. It was a good thing to put it all together at the right time, which they stepped up and did that. They showed that this year does matter. A lot of people discounted this year as being important and it matters. We closed off with 147 and we ended last year (third at the state meet) with a 147."
The Bears' Kayla Bailey won the all-around for second straight year with 37.975. She also won three other events, scoring a season-best 9.8 on vault, as well as a 9.55 on floor and a 9.5 on the bars.
"I hit the Yurchenko half tuck, which I had a lot of height on it." Bailey said. "I had some rotation and a good landing on it."
Bailey had a career-best 9.875 at the state meet last year.
"Everything is amazing," said Bailey, a senior. "For the team and myself on how far we've come. It kind of stunk that we didn't have a state series, but our team pushed the season and the best we could out of it."
The Bears' Rayna Kauffman earned top honors on beam with a 9.45. She was also second in the all-around (37.4), second on floor (9.3), third on bars (9.35) and fifth on vault (9.3). AJ Burk was fourth in the all-around (36.175), and second on beam (9.375). Kayla Moses tied for third with Stevenson's Ally Gitler (9.25) and also tied with Gitler on floor for third with (9.25).
The Patriots' Gitler placed third in the all-around (36.4), third on beam (9.35) and fourth on vault (9.35). Maya Fergus was second on bars (9.45), while Lauren Jackson was fourth (9.2) and Ainslee Cutler finished fifth (9.2). Cutler was also fifth in the all-around (35.95). Ashley Schabes landed third on vault (9.4).
"We had a great meet with very low pressure when the competition is in two sessions," said Stevenson coach Judy Harwood, whose Patriots had a season-high score. "It was a short but sweet season."
Warren sophomore Olivia Kaether earned second place on vault with a 9.45 and Mundelein's Elle Mishler placed fifth on beam (9.25) and floor (9.0).