Sticking the finish

HINSDALE – For Wheaton senior gymnasts David MacDonald and Ethan Sansone, a third consecutive team triumph at the state meet was everything they could have hoped for.

The Wheaton co-op won the state title for the third year in a row, MacDonald defended his all-around title and won four events, and Sansone was second in the all-around and took home four event medals, including first place on pommel horse.

"I think we met our expectations and exceeded them," Sansone said. "We pretty much hit every routine that we came out and tried.

"Freshman year, I'm the only freshman on the varsity squad and the rest of the guys were seniors and a few juniors. Back then I had no clue that we'd end up with three team titles and everything else we've accomplished."

Wheaton scored 161.55 points to win by nearly eight points. MacDonald scored 56.1 points in the all-around and Sansone was second with 54.2.

MacDonald medaled in every event to finish his two-year high school career with 12 first place medals when including the team titles and 14 medals overall. He doesn't plan to compete in college, but will attend Baylor University with the plan of majoring in electrical engineering.

"Right now I'm feeling kind of sad because this is actually the last gymnastics meet I'll ever do," MacDonald said. "I'm sad, but I'm really happy that I got to end it this way. I'm thankful for my coaches and all of my teammates. It's bittersweet."

The wear and tear gymnastics puts on the body took its toll on MacDonald, but he still loves the sport.

"My body just hurts a lot," he said. "I love gymnastics, but I'm not a big fan of meets, to be honest. I hate the pressure, but I love the sport. I thought this would be a good time to end, after high school."

MacDonald said he plans to help out with the team when he can in the future because the team left such an impression on him.

"It didn't even feel like an individual competition," MacDonald said. "[Lucas] Cooperman is all of a sudden really good at floor. Ben Szot has always been so consistent. All our other guys that hit on high bar and p-bars. We just have an amazing team and I'm really thankful to have been a part of it."

Cooperman placed fourth on floor exercise and senior Connor Ritchie tied for fourth on rings to also earn medals. Seniors Camden Johnnic, Ben Marston, Austin Peabody and freshman Austin Tate also contributed to the title.

Sansone was a four-year high school gymnast. He finished his career with four state trophies in the team competition and 10 individual medals. His first place showing on the pommel horse was his first event title.

"If I could have gone through high school with any state title, I would have wanted it to be pommel horse," Sansone said. "It's my favorite event and I'm glad I could hit the routine at state finals."

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Wheaton co-op state medalists

Name, event, place, score

• David MacDonald, all-around, first, 56.1

• Ethan Sansone, all-around, second, 54.2

• MacDonald, floor exercise, first, 9.5

• Lucas Cooperman, floor exercise, fourth, 9.2

• Sansone, floor exercise, fifth, 9.15

• Sansone, pommel horse, first, 9.6

• MacDonald, pommel horse, third, 9.1

• MacDonald, still rings, first, 9.2

• Connor Ritchie, still rings, tied for fourth, 8.85

• MacDonald, vault, tied for first, 9.75

• MacDonald, parallel bars, first, 9.45

• Sansone, parallel bars, fourth, 9.05

• MacDonald, horizontal bar, second, 8.85

• Sansone, horizontal bar, tied for fourth, 8.65

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