Girls Gymnastics: Penny's Going to Palatine

If you can't beat them, join them.

The co-op teams of Waubonsie Valley/Metea Valley, Lincoln-Way and Sandburg/Stagg didn't have much of a chance of finishing ahead of the host Red Devils in Wednesday's Hinsdale Central sectional, but plenty of area gymnasts will be joining them in Palatine for the state finals on Feb. 18-19.

Hinsdale Central finished comfortably in front of runner-up Lyons Township, 146.475 to 144.775 to punch its ticket to Palatine. Waubonsie Valley/Metea Valley edged Lincoln-Way 141.925 to 141.575 for third place, while Sandburg/Stagg was fifth with a 136.8. Oswego co-op took sixth with a 136.250.

"We knew what we were going against with Hinsdale (Central) and Lyons so we just wanted to hit," Waubonsie Valley/Metea Valley coach Nicole Daly said. "I thought we had a really good meet."

Freshman Jordyn Penny certainly had a good meet for Waubonsie Valley/Metea Valley, winning beam with a 9.675 and taking third in the all-around. Also advancing for Waubonsie Valley/Metea Valley was Maddie Strick, who placed fourth on bars with a 9.125.

Junior Claire Hillier led Lincoln-Way co-op and secured the final all-around qualifier, taking fifth place with a 37.05. Hillier also tied for second on bars with Andrew's Jamie Valla with a 9.25. Also advancing for Lincoln-Way were Emma Moris, who placed fifth on beam with a 9.25, and Kaitlyn Neiheisel,  who tied for fourth place on floor with a 9.4.

"They had hoped for a higher score," Lincoln-Way coach Skip Adamson said. "But they tried hard and fought in every event. Claire (Hillier) even surprised herself with her all-around finish because she expected to be lower."

Sandburg/Stagg's Alexa Messina was sixth in the all-around with a 36.975 and will hope  to advance as an at-large. She already advances on floor, where she took third place with a 9.450, and vault, where she secured fifth place with a 9.475. Teammate Sarah Mussallem was sixth on vault with a 9.425.

Oswego all-arounders were certainly consistent. Amanda Padlo (34.250), Kyle Price (34.025) and Kathryn Maher (34.0) finished back-to-back-to-back in the all-around standings. Price took seventh on vault with a 9.4.

Andrew's Jamie Valla was fourth in the all-around with a 37.275. She tied for second on bars with a 9.250 and took third on vault with a 9.625.

"I came in and didn't want to be nervous," Valla said. "I just tried to do my best and go 4-for-4 which I pretty much did so I was happy.

Downers Grove South's Sam Shimkus tied for 15th in the all-around with a 34.650. Plainfield North's Kori Boe was 17th in the all-around with a 34.425.

Neuqua Valley's Jaime Butler tied for 18th in the all-around with a 34.3 and Morgan Knight was 10th on bars with an 8.825.

Naperville Central's Brittany Mitchell had an 8.975 on vault. Naperville North's Hope Turner posted an 8.475 on bars while senior Kate Noreen was 25th in the all-around with a 32.3.

"I didn't do my best but that's gymnastics," Noreen said, "I was just happy to be able to compete with these awesome gymnasts."

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