Glenbard West gymnasts win ninth straight regional title, eye return to state

VILLA PARK – For seniors and two-time state competitors Grace Flint and Leah Chapski, this could have been a rebuilding year with the Glenbard West girls gymnastics team.

Thanks to the freshmen group of Nicole Sienkiewicz, Callie Behnke, Daphne White and Cathlea Ben, the Hilltoppers again are in contention for a berth to the eight-team state team.

“They’re so awesome. Their skills, their energy at practice, they’re so great,” Chapski said.

“They started training with us during the summer and fall. As soon as we practiced, we kind of knew the talent, the energy, the positivity.”

Glenbard West, however, definitely needs to regroup despite winning the Willowbrook Regional Thursday (137.325 points) for its ninth straight regional title and 16th in the last 20 postseasons while advancing to the Glenbard West Sectional Feb. 12.

In her two events, Flint won balance beam (9.15) and shared first on uneven parallel bars with Sienkiewicz (8.875) despite a fall.

Willowbrook senior Naomi Campbell won all-around (36.10) and vault (9.4) as the second-place Warriors scored a season-high 133.075.

“I just wanted to go (on beam) and do the best that I could, the same that I always do in practice,” Flint said. “We just want and go and do the best we can (at sectionals).”

Counting four falls, the Hilltoppers were disappointed after scoring at least 140.80 in their previous four outings. They’ve scored 142.30 and won the West Suburban Conference Silver Division Meet Saturday (141.575) for their 10th consecutive outright or shared overall championship.

“We’re happy with the (regional) win but we’re not happy with our performance. We’re going to work our butts off to get ready for sectionals,” Chapski said.

The Hilltoppers can reach their first state meet since 2022 either automatically by winning the sectional or at-large.

The Hilltoppers have beaten the other top sectional teams head to head at least once, including top-seeded Lake Park (season-high 142.60), most recently by .80 at the York Invite Jan. 25.

“I think our inexperience and youth showed and we need a little bit more leadership to get to the next level,” Glenbard West coach Carlos Fuentes said.

“Over 50 percent of our scores come from new (varsity) athletes. They’re done a remarkable job so far. There’s always going to be a hiccup and that’s what today was but their pedigree throughout the season shows how good a team they can be.”

Top-five individual finishers automatically advance to sectionals. Sienkiewicz also was second on vault (9.375) and all-around (34.55) and fourth on beam (8.375), Chapski was third on floor exercise (8.55) and vault (9.2), fourth in all-around (33.775) and fifth on uneven bars (8.4), White was fourth on uneven bars (8.425), Ben tied for fourth on floor (8.325) and Behnke was fifth on vault (8.8).

“I think that we’ve all really helped each other be the best that we can be. We cheer on each other at practice, which really helps our performances,” Sienkiewicz said.

Willowbrook topped its previous best of 131.90 Jan. 23. Accelerated progress by all-stater Campbell from a pre-season dislocated finger certainly has helped, but Willowbrook coach Andy Isaacson noted multiple improvements.

“It’s really cool when you get your highest score (at regionals) – and with tougher judges,” Isaacson said.

Besides her victories, Campbell was most pleased with her third-place 8.8 on uneven bars, the event on which she was injured and limited her to two events at the start. Campbell also was second on beam (9.1) and floor (8.8).

Campbell’s first full-difficulty bars routine of the season included a double back flip dismount.

“That was a lot for me to come back on and I finally hit it,” Campbell said. “I tried not to focus on (my last home meet) but my team did so well. I was so excited mostly. The emotions didn’t come until later.”

Sophomore Lilian Macias, a 2024 sectional vault qualifier, returns after a fourth-place 9.1. Junior Kaia Capulong makes her sectional debut behind third on beam (8.5) and fifth in all-around (32.60). Capulong barely missed sectionals on multiple events last season.

“Definitely hitting beam (was my highlight) because vault didn’t go so well,” Vaia said.“Just to see that I made (sectionals) automatically, didn’t have to wait (for at-large) I was really happy.”

Kaneland sophomore Ella Kerrins, competing as an individual, had a 29.90 all-around that remains in at-large sectional contention.

Maine West (121.20) was third. Senior Maya Woroszylo, a 2024 sectional floor qualifier, won floor (9.2).

Woroszylo secured additional berths with third in all-around (34.05) and fifth on beam (8.25). Freshman Nataliya Troncoso qualified by sharing fourth on floor (8.325).

“This is my senior year so it’s the best feeling ever,” Woroszylo said. “Getting (multiple events) as a senior feels so good so I’m really happy.”