Girls gymnastics: Hamann settling in at Warren

Amanda Hamann has landed in a good spot with the Warren Blue Devils'girls gymnastics team. The junior transferred from Carmel Catholic to Warren this year and has become more than a leader with her efforts and ability early in the season.

Hamann had a career-best in a North Suburban Conference meet held at Mundelein High School on Wednesday night. She won the all-around with a 37.4. She placed in the top spots on the vault (9.6) and the floor exercise (9.5), second on the balance beam (9.2), and third on bars (9.1).

"I'm so happy to be with this team, because they're the main reason I do so well," Hamann said. "They encourage me so much and I'm glad to have them behind me."

Hamann scored well on her vault as she landed the Yurchenko lay out.

"This was definitely my top meet," Hamann said. "So far, this was my high scores in all the events."

Warren posted its season best score with a 137.85 good for second place.

"We've improved quite a bit," Warren coach Mary Kovac said. "We've had a lot of girls that have been together for a while both on JV and varsity. It's like bringing the two sides together."

Lake Zurich chalked up its best with a 142.2 after taking the Rolling Meadows invitational last Saturday.

"The girls have started to work up their endurance," Lake Zurich coach Chelsie Grotelueschen said. "We're not working on our hardest skills right now. Our goal is to learn how to compete as a team."

AJ Burk and Rayna Kaufmann shared first place on the bars with a 9.5 for the Bears. Burk was also third on the beam (9.1) and tied for fourth on vault with Warren's Hailey Krueger (8.8).

"It was a good atmosphere, and we were hyping each other up," Burk said. "This was one of my favorite meets, because it was close, and everyone was happy to see you compete."

Kaufman was runner-up in the all-around (35.85), second on floor (9.25) and vault (8.9).

The Bears' Emilly Mills earned top honors on the beam (9.25), Mia McHugh third on floor (8.85) and Gianna Mirabella was third in the all-around (34.55).

Mundelein was led by Jessica Lake with a fourth-place finish in the all-around (34.4). She was also fourth on the beam (8.8) and tied for fourth on the floor with Warren's Mirabella (8.7). The Mustangs finished third with a 127.5.

"The girls did so well, and we improved from our last two meets and an invite on Saturday," Mundelein coach Bridget Erickson said.