Girls gymnastics: Chudy, Vernon Hills shine at Lake Forest quad

Cheering for your teammate goes a long way these days.

Vernon Hills sophomore Annika Chudy had her team behind her in every event, which gave her the encouragement for her floor exercise routine that helped her land in first place with a 9.45.

Chudy also won the all-around with a season-best 37.65. She won on vault (9.55), beam (9.45) and on bars (9.2).

"I really like competing floor, because when I have my team and everybody cheering, it gets me pumped up to show it off," Chudy said. "It makes me feel good with the team behind me and supporting me so I can do my best."

Vernon Hills set school record with its 146.075 and placed first in the holiday quad hosted by Lake Forest. Lake Zurich was second (141.65), Lake Forest third (132.05) and District 117 fourth (131.6).

"I feel like it's almost a school best," Vernon Hills coach Denise Caton said. "We've got a young team. I think it means that we're slowly putting things together. We're finally being one of those top teams. Hard work and everything is starting to pay off. The routines are coming together, and the girls are making improvements."

Shihori Takenaka of Vernon Hills tied with Lake Zurich's Rayna Kaufman for second place all-around with a 36.55.

Livy Tran was second on vault (9.5), while her sister Becca was third (9.4), and Takenaka second on bars (9.15) for the Cougars.

Kaufman also placed second on beam (9.4) and Lake Forest's Taylor Cekay was third (9.3). Reagen Fisch from the Scouts placed second on the floor (9.35).

"The girls are trying, but half of them are still pretty young and the other half are seniors," Lake Zurich coach Chlesie Groteluschen said. "We're still learning how to compete together."

District 117 has reached a new level getting past the 130 mark, which has been something the team has been striving for the last couple of years.

D117's Jocelyn Crum placed third on floor with a 9.2 and was fourth on vault (9.35).

"I do like floor better, but I'm better at the vault," Crum said. "I thought my vault (Yurchenko pike) was very powerful and I had a lot of height."