THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2008
Gymnastics: Palatine, Conant, Prospect On Top
By BOBBY CHILVER
Journal Sports
As expected, last year's state champion Palatine took the Mid Suburban League conference championship on Friday.
Matt Eckardt won the all-around, which included first places in the floor exercise and parallel bars. Teammate Luke Schuster won the still rings and the Pirates rolled.
Conant followed in second place with a 147.3, about 10 pts. behind Palatine, led by Jon Snyder's second place in the all-around (52.9). He won the high bar (9.45), placed second on the floor, rings and parallel bar, third on the vault and fourth on the pommel horse. Teammate Steve Rink was also fourth in the all-around and finished third in the floor and pommel horse while Clinton Martin added a second place performance at the vault.
Prospect tallied 145.1 points for third place, with Chris Mattes third in the all-around (52.45). The senior won the still rings with an 8.4, was third in the high bar and parallel bar, fourth on floor and fifth on vault.
Fremd was fourth (133.65) with Elk Grove next in fifth (129.85).
Buffalo Grove was sixth (127.7), Barrington seventh (124.45), Hoffman Estates eighth (124.25), Rolling Meadows ninth (121.1), Schaumburg 10th (116,85) and Hersey 11th (112.65.
At the Central Suburban League conference meet, Glenbrook South's Steve Deutsch dominated the competition, as did the Titans with 151.200 points and a championship.
Deutsch won five of six events and tied for first in the last one to total 56.500 and take the all-around.
The Highland Park/Deerfield co-op team was second with Niles West third. Maine South came in sixth and Maine East seventh in the 8-team event.
The Wolves scored 129.800 for third place behind Chris Noche's fifth place in the all-around. Noche finished with a 41.600, with his best performance coming on the parallel bars, where he was fourth overall with a 8.4. The Wolves also earned an individual win as Andy Foerch tied for first in the floor exercise with a 9.1. Foerch was tied for third on the vault (9.2) and tenth on the parallel bars (7.3). Other top performers were Chris Dearmont, third in the still rings (8.5), Jordan Stein, third on the pommel horse (7.5), Chris Tabamo, fifth on the horse (7.0), Jake Ganellen, sixth on vault (9.0) and seventh at floor (8.2) and Mike Masanek at horizontal bar (5.0).
Maine South totaled 107.100 with Tony Caccomo leading the way, placing sixth in the all-around (40.500). Coccomo's top finishes came on the parallel bars (8.3) and vault (9.1), where he was fifth overall and the floor exercise (8.3), where he was sixth. Hawk Kyle Benedix was ninth in the vault (8.8) and 11th in the floor (7.8).
Maine East came out with 104.500 points for seventh. Mike Aoyagi had the best Demon finish, placing third on the vault (9.2) and 11th in the still rings (6.5).
Sectional meets for all boys gymnastics team start tomorrow (Thursday).
Leyden, Glenbrook South, Maine East, Maine South and Niles West will be at York tomorrow, beginning at 7 p.m.
Buffalo Grove, Fremd and Palatine will be at Palatine Saturday, May 3, beginning at 2 p.m.
Hersey, Elk Grove, Conant, Prospect and Rolling Meadows compete at Lake Park Saturday at 7 p.m.