New Trier is going to state again.
Three-time defending state champion Carmel will not be going.
New Trier won Thursday’s Stevenson sectional with 144.4 points to snag the final automatic qualifier to next weekend’s IHSA state finals, while Lake Forest edged the Corsairs for the fourth and final at-large qualifier, 142.45 to 142.425.
The Trevians pulled off the victory despite watching all five gymnasts fall on beam. They put their miscues behind them and put a 36.55 on the board on floor and then a 37.3 on vault.
“It was very uncharacteristic for us to have five falls like that, but we got right back up on floor and got together and said, ‘This is it,’” New Trier coach Jenny Pistorious said. “They got right back up on floor and put it together. They knew they had to rock the last two events and they did. They were amazing.”
Senior Kerry Scafidi led the team, taking third place in the all-around with a 37.425. She also won the parallel bars with a 9.625.
New Trier, which made its first state appearance since 1995 last year, received a 9.425 on vault from Scaffidi, which was followed by a 9.4 from Stephanie Steen and a 9.4 from Elana Benishay.
“They’ve gone on an unbelievable run,” Pistorious said. “They’ve just been amazing team.”
Carmel senior Lauren Feely won the all-around with a 38.175. She also took top honors on vault with a 9.85 and floor with a 9.65.
Stevenson sophomore Alyssa Weisberg was crowned bar champion with a 9.5.
