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LA GRANGE – Senior Gwen Berenyi is enjoying the best of her four seasons with the Oswego co-op girls gymnastics team.
The strongest lineup in decades has provided motivation.
“I’m actually improving over the years,” Berenyi said. “Our team has gotten so good and we’ve gotten so many girls. I feel like it’s just an accomplishment for me to be able to contribute to the team score.”
Oswego co-op is on the verge of accomplishing something that hasn’t happened in a while after scoring 138.75 points in winning the Lyons Township Regional Tuesday. Batavia (133.425), the host Lions (131.95) and Waubonsie Valley/Metea Valley (123.375) also competed in the regional field. It’s Oswego’s fourth consecutive regional title.
Oswego co-op freshman Sam Phillip won floor exercise (9.35) and vault (9.4) and senior Kelsie Freundt captured balance beam (9.45). Batavia junior Grace Cooper won all-around (34.70) and LT freshman Emmy Bertucci won the uneven parallel bars (8.7).
Oswego co-op, which scored a season-high 141.60 Jan. 24 and at least 140 three other times, will play host to sectionals Monday. The sectional champion automatically advances to the eight-team state meet, something Oswego co-op hasn’t done since 2002. The biggest challenger should be Downers Grove co-op (season-high 142.75 Jan. 20).
“We’re excited to have the home field advantage and our mats, our equipment, and having our audience. The girls are really looking forward to it,” Oswego co-op coach Amanda Zielske said.
Freundt again epitomized that determination Tuesday. She injured her lower right leg falling on a floor pass and not only continued competing on beam but won that event by .3.
“I never hesitated. Beam’s my favorite event so I wanted to go out there and prove to the team that I could hit a good set for our team score,” Freundt said.
She dismounted and immediately sat down on a nearby mat, soon accompanied by a bag of ice.
“It was hard. It was painful, but it was worth it,” Freundt said. “(State has) been one of our goals so if can make that happen, that would be amazing.”
Berenyi, fourth on vault (8.95), also automatically advanced individually to sectionals with top-five finishes. More will advance at-large determined after the last of the four feed-in regionals Thursday. Phillip was fourth in all-around (33.575). On vault, Freundt tied for second (9.05) and junior Kylie Phillip shared fifth (8.75). Juniors Olivia Valenti (8.4) and Sarah Mustafa (8.3) finished 2-3 on uneven bars, Mustafa was fifth on beam (8.5) and senior Amelia Soriaga was fourth on floor (8.85).
Like freshman year, Cooper seemed destined to not even have a postseason because of injury after hurting her knee in late December. Just back to action on uneven bars and beam Friday, Cooper won all-around with help from second on beam (9.15) and sharing fourth on uneven bars (8.25) and fifth on vault (8.75).
“I don’t know how it happened. I can’t even feel my body. I’m on air. It’s awesome. I’ve never placed o any of this (postseason) stuff before,” Cooper said. “It’s a little painful but nothing I can’t really handle. It’s not the worst thing I’ve had to endure. Its managable.”
Cooper’s clearance date initially was Wednesday, but she was medically cleared a week earlier.
“She’s had three days of practice since she got cleared. And watered down tumbling, watered down beam. Just being on floor it’s watered down,” Batavia coach Taryn Boyce said.
Batavia senior Natalie Hayden is making her first sectional trip and senior Jackie Nelson her second. Hayden was second in all-around (34.225) and floor (8.925), tied for second on vault (9.05) and was fourth on beam (8.575). With her final routine, Nelson was fifth on floor (8.675).
“It’s very exciting. I’m just so happy to stand next to Cooper for that (all-around medal). It’s so exciting to do it together,” Hayden said. “(And) I definitely did not expect to be up there for beam.”
“I wasn’t really expecting (sectionals). I had made peace that this was my last meet but I’m excited to go,” Nelson said.
Bertucci was elated by winning uneven bars by landing her double back flip dismount for only the second time this season.
“It was really great. Just when I threw my double back and landed it, I was hearing all of the cheering,” Bertucci said. “It felt so great, hearing all of my team supporting me.”
LT junior Annmarie Holmes finished third in all-around (33.925), beam (8.975) and floor (8.9). Sophomore Emily Tucker, who advanced by sharing fourth on uneven bars (8.25) returned on that event after injuring her ankle during warmups at the West Suburban Silver Meet Saturday.
Waubonsie/Metea sophomore Hailey Mitchell first advanced by sharing fourth on uneven bars (season-high 8.25) and then in all-around (5th, 32.55). Junior teammate Stephanie Svec was sixth in all-around and floor.
“I really had no idea (about qualifying) because this is my first year having a chance to go to sectionals. I thought bars was probably one of my best chances,” Mitchell said.