Boys Gymnastics: Short-handed Glenbard South takes third in meet at Stevenson

Stevenson’s boys gymnastics team found a way to power through and pick up a pair of wins Wednesday.

With just five gymnasts, two of them injured, the Patriots were still able to win their triangular with a score of 110.30. Andrew was second with 108.90 while very short-handed Glenbard South scored a 44.80.

“We had a couple of guys banged up, but they fought through it, " Stevenson coach Joe Rogalski said. “They are our seniors and our co-captains. They showed the rest of the team that when you are hurting to power through it.”

Daksh Guard competed in three events and Jaden Pazol just competed on the floor, scoring a 7.10. Both said there was no way they wouldn’t compete Wednesday.

“The trainer said that I should sit the meet out with my shoulder,” Pazol said. “But I know all the guys are hurting. It is because we didn’t have a season last year. I went one event, which is abnormal for me. But it was important to me to do that.”

Guard, who strained his quad while vaulting, still competed in the event.

“My quad started cramping up while I was running,” Guard said. “It is my senior year. I am never going to have another chance to power through. I still think I did pretty good and I am proud of myself for that.”

Guard said not having a season last year changed his perspective on how to fight through adversity.

“If this was last year, there is no way I would have gone on today,” Guard said. “Now things are uncertain, so you learn to live in the present.”

It was the second meet of the season for the Patriots, who scored a 112.80 last week. Although their score dropped a bit, Rogalski thought his team competed better.

“We had guys that wanted to try something new this week,” Rogalski said. “Last week, we didn’t want them to do that. Today, we had guys chucking stuff. It didn’t quite happen, but it will next week.”

Stevenson’s Finley Oysten won the parallel bars with 7.10 and was second in the all-around with a 36.40. Santiago Gonzalez won the floor with an 8.10. Tyler Ehlen was second on the pommel horse with 5.60 while Benny Verezub was second on the parallel bars with a 7.00.

Glenbard South had just Noah Ball and Val Saboriendo compete. The Raiders were missing Mark Johnson, who qualified for state in two events in 2019. Johnson is on the Glenbard South football team.

Also missing was Matt Drinane, who plays soccer and had a game Wednesday along with Ali Memhood, who was out.

“The kids were excited to be here,” Glenbard South coach Lee Wood said. “When we have a full team, it will be even better. But we are a small school and we have to share the kids. We are all just happy to be competing again.”