Hersey notches first MSL championship since 1984
After a disappointing performance Thursday, Hersey coach Shannon Barrett gave her team the day off Friday in anticipation of Saturday's Mid-Suburban League girls gymnastics meet on Saturday.
But her team didn't want the day off.
"They were mad at me," Barrett said. "But they needed a mental break. They went out together for dinner and had some team bonding. They came back today and shined. They went 4-for-4."
The Huskies responded by having their best meet of the season. Hersey scored a 145.55 to win the MSL championship at Schaumburg. It was the first MSL girls gymnastics championship for Hersey since 1984.
"We did not have normal vibe on Thursday," said senior Emily Hupp, who would finish eighth in the all-around with a 35.80.
"Coach Barrett gave us the day off and we were all kind of upset by it. But we all went to dinner together and we all made speeches about each other. I love this team so much. I think we came back because we came to fight."
Leading that battle was Sabrina Nemcek. The freshman won the all-around title with a 37.35 and had a scintillating performance on the bars, winning the event with a 9.55.
"A lot of hard work pays off," said Nemcek, who tied for second on the vault with a 9.40, sixth on the beam and eighth on the floor.
"You have to be confident in yourself and know that you can do the skill, and just go up there and show what you know."
Hupp was eighth on the vault and second on the floor with a 9.50, Elise Forsline was fourth on the bars with a 9.20 while Grace Johnson was sixth. Taylor Woolsey was eighth on the floor while Gianna Mazzola was ninth.
Barrington was second with a 141.45. That was nearly 2 points better than its best score this season.
"It was a huge meet for us," Barrington coach Jason Loeffler said. "The we're a lot of firsts. What I mean by that is that we put a lot of new stuff in, taking those baby steps forward to get ready for the regional meet."
The Fillies were led by Ellie Marquis, who was MSL champion on the floor with a 9.60. Sofia Rozenzweig was third on the beam with a 9.45 while Adrianna Merzyn was fourth with a 9.35. Merzyn and Ember Stennet tied for eighth on the floor. Nika Patel was 10th in the all-around with a 35.40 and ninth on the beam.
Prospect, which won the MSL East title, was third with a 140.45. The Knights were led by sophomore Emily Gianfrancesco, who was second in the all-around with a 36.95.
"I had so much fun" said Gianfrancesco, who won the vault with a 9.60, was seventh on the bars and fifth on the beam.
"I had a little mishap on the floor. It brought my score down and I still finished the meet off strong."
Kaiya Koyanagi was fourth on the vault with 9.35 while Catherine Grabowy, Anika Knipple and Julia Cunniff also came up big for the Knights.
"I am very proud of them," Prospect coach Monica Donner said. "Getting that perfect meet has been a struggle for us. We still have regionals, sectionals and state."
Buffalo Grove was fourth with a 139.45. That gave the MSL East three of the top four teams.
Buffalo Grove's Olivia Tangorra tied Palatine's Jocie Waddington for third in the all-around with a 36.90. Tangorra also won the beam with a 9.55.
Hoffman Estates' Elyssa Wuerffel was fifth in the all-around with a 36.75.