St. Edward’s Abby Madden didn’t get off to the start she wanted during Friday’s IHSA state girls gymnastics finals at Palatine.
While she still recorded a 9.275 on floor and 9.45 on vault, they weren’t the scores she was looking for in her pursuit to finish among the top all-arounders in the state.
Fortunately, she rebounded in the second half, scoring a 9.45 on bars and beam to tie for fifth in the all-around with a 37.625.
“That was a horrible beginning and after that I just thought things were over,” Madden said. “But I talked to my Mom and she calmed me down. Then I was able to finish strong.”
Her efforts on bars and beam will extend her gymnastics career for another day as she will be among the Top 10 in those respective events on Saturday.
The team competition is yet to be finalized, as girls who advance individually can adjust a team’s score. Still, Geneva was fifth with a 145.225 while St. Charles co-op was eighth with a 141.675.
The team title will likely go to Prairie Ridge co-op, which holds a 149.3 to 149.05 lead over Lyons.
Dominique Brognia (36.9) and Ashley Puff (36.7) led the Vikings, while Puff advanced in the floor exercise with a 9.375.
Geneva closed the meet especially strong on beam, which left Puff in tears.
“It was a great finish and such an emotional ending to a great meet,” she said. “We hit everything for the most part which is what we came here to do. I’m just so happy to have made it here to state with my team. And to have such a fantastic outcome has made it an even greater experience.”
St. Charles co-op shined on bars (37.1) but struggled on beam (34.425) and bars (33.750).
“It didn’t go as well as we had planned,” freshman Rachel Dugan said. “We’re going to lose a few girls, but we’ll also have a lot of people back next year and we hope to get back here.”
Dugan finished with a 35.825 in the all-around.
