Sports
Hinsdale Central Beats Lyons for Sectional Gymnastics Title
Kristen Grilli sets personal best on vault and all-around to help send Red Devils to the state finals; Lyons Township's chance gone for return to state.
Hinsdale Central took over the floor early in the evening during Wednesday's home girls gymnastics sectional and never looked back.
The Red Devils didn't have the perfect meet—they particularly had more falls on beam then they would've liked—but runner-up Lyons Township wasn't sharp enough to surpass them.
Hinsdale Central punched its ticket to the state finals with a 146.475, finishing comfortably ahead of Lyons Township's 144.775.
"Our number one goal was to win conference because we have such a tough conference and our second was to get to state," Hinsdale Central coach Kim Estoque said. "We won conference and now are going to state."
Kristen Grilli was in control all night for the Red Devils, winning the all-around with a 38.275.
"We got off to a great start at the beginning on floor and that was the best we've done," she said. "We had some falls on beam but we competed through that."
Grilli also set a career-high 9.875 when she won the vault.
"My first one wasn't so great," she said. "Then I was more nervous on my second one but I relaxed a bit and it went really well."
The Red Devils received strong contributions from all-a rounders Erin Morgan (36.050), Leah Tarabour (35.950), and Erin Usher 35.550 to win the sectional.
"It was a good meet for us overall," Estoque said. "Kristen had her broke her vault (record) and set a personal best on all-around and it was nice for Maggie (Glavin) to (advance to state) on bars."
Hinsdale Central's Maggie Glavin tied for fifth on bars with a 9.075.
"I was kind of bummed after falling on beam," Glavin said. "So it was a nice surprise to go (to state) on bars. I had been scoring lower this than usual so I was excited to see my score."
Lyons Township's Carolyn Cozza placed second in the all-around with a 37.450 but overall it was a disappointing night for the Lions who saw their dreams of returning to the state finals end.
"I've coached these girls harder than any other team I've ever coached and it was their meet to win with Hinsdale Central's three falls on beam," Lyons coach Kari Karubas said. "They just couldn't handle it."
The Lions' Taylor Southworth placed seventh in the all-around with a 36.375.
