Naperville North was without standout sophomore Michaela Robert during Thursday’s DuPage Valley Conference finale against visiting Naperville Central.
With Roberts on a Missions trip in the Honduras, the Huskies turned to their two seniors to lead the way, and they made sure to deliver.
Kaitlyn Daly won vault (9.45) and bars (9) and was easily the top all-arounder with 36.4 points. Carleigh Turner competed in three events, highlighted by her 8.55 on vault and 8.25 on bars.
Their combined efforts helped the Huskies prevail, 135 to 133.5.
“It was a good score and a good win,” Huskies coach Chris Stanicek said. “The girls came in on fire and performed the way they were supposed to tonight.”
Robert traditionally scores in the same ballpark as Daly, so several Huskies needed to step up to fill her void. Shelby Porter had an 8.5 on vault and 8.25 on floor, Grace Carlson contributed an 8.45 on vault and 8.15 on beam and Stephanie Mueller had an 8.05 on bars and won floor with a 9.
“I’m so proud of my team for stepping up,” Daly said. “It was definitely an exciting thing to beat (Naperville) Central. They’re good friends and it was friendly competition, but I’m happy that we won.”
Naperville Central’s Claire Savard ousted three of her teammates for the team’s top all-around score of 33.650, although Danielle Breeden (33.3), Lea Savard (33.25) and Vanessa Henry (33.15) were literally just behind her.
“We’re just looking for that one meet to really put it together and we’re hoping to get that at the DVC,” Claire Savard said. “Tonight I had a great meet on vault and bars, but got to floor and was shaky and fell once on beam.”
Breeden tied Daly for top honors on beam with a 9.
“I’ve been working very hard on beam and repeating skills over and over again,” Breeden said. “This one was very solid. I was finally able to calm down and this beam was solid.”
Both teams finished 2-2 in the DVC. The Huskies will head to the York Invite on Saturday before joining the Redhawks at the DVC meet a week from tonight at Glenbard East.
