May 07, 2019 at 02:25AM
Seniors on the Glenbrook North boys gymnastics team had known Cam Hardegree as a classmate and as an outstanding club gymnast.
But until this season, the Spartans never knew Hardegree as a teammate.
Hardegree decided he wanted to be part of the squad after witnessing the team's chemistry at preseason workouts. He was ready for a change from club gymnastics, and senior captain Casey Mutchnik soon realized this season could be one to remember.
"That's when I knew we could have something really special this year," Mutchnik said.
Spartans coach Ryan Dul knew about Hardegree's talent and knew him from their shared time on campus. Dul said he never pressured Hardegree to join the varsity gymnastics team, but the coach was sure happy when he did.
"It was awesome," Dul said.
Hardegree led Glenbrook North to a sectional championship with 157.65 team points last Thursday in Northbrook. He helped put the Spartans in position to contend for the state title Friday in Hoffman Estates.
"This year, I wanted to have a little more fun," Hardegree said. "I won't be doing gymnastics in college. I wanted to be part of a team. You have your teammates cheering for you, and you cheer for them."
When Hardegree heads to Bradley University in the fall, he said he plans to concentrate on cheerleading. But for now, the focus is on his final gymnastics season.
At the sectional meet, Hardegree medaled in all six individual events and placed second in the all-around (54.05). He won the pommel horse (9.40) and finished second in the still rings (8.80) and the vault (9.40).
Sophomore Daniel Lavrentiev earned automatic bids to the state meet in the floor, pommel horse and parallel bars by placing in the top five at the Glenbrook North Sectional. He also earned at-large bids in the all-around, vault and high bar.
Mutchnik qualified for state with a third-place finish on rings and a fourth-place showing on pommel horse. He added at-large berths in the vault and parallel bars.
Anything but routine: Dul said all Spartan gymnasts added difficulty to their routines to increase their scoring potential for the postseason.That worked especially well for Lavrentiev, who had his best meet of the season, according to Dul.
"He's been working hard all year, and everything started coming together the last few weeks," Dul said. "He was just on fire. He had some family here who hadn't seen him perform this year. We may have to require them to come to state."
Lavrentiev added a stutz to his parallel bar rourtine. He said he started from a handstand, swung backward between the bars and returned to a handstand while doing a half-turn to face the opposite way.
"I'd never tried it before in competition," Lavrentiev said. "I was really on top of my performance."
Glenbrook North had the third-highest score among all teams at all sectionals. The five sectional champions will join three at-large teams in the team competition Friday night at the state meet.
Dul said the Glenbrook North gymnasts will add even more difficulty to their routines ahead of the state meet, where a fraction of a point can separate champions from the rest of the pack.
"It's going to be a fun competition," Dul said. "We've been close with Libertyville and Niles West all year. It's going to be about making the hits."
Wolves are winners: Niles West is heading back to the state meet after a stellar showing at the Lyons Sectional last week.
The Wolves won four of the six individual events at Lyons and ran away with the team title with 159.05 points, the second-highest qualifying score in the state.
Fresh off dominating the Central Suburban League meet, sophomore Murun Jamiyankhuu won the floor (9.45), pommel horse (9.30) and all-around (54.40). Senior Jack Nguyen won the rings (9.50), and sophomore Brian Lieo conquered the vault (9.45).
The Wolves won the 2016 state title and once again send a deep team to the state meet. Niles West gymnasts combined to qualify for 24 entries at the state meet.
Byrd, Bekannon rep Vikings: Niles North did not qualify for state as a team out of the Hersey Sectional, but the Vikings will have two gymnasts competing at the state meet.
Senior gymnast Gavin Byrd was an automatic qualifier on the pommel horse (8.50) and the parallel bars (8.90). He also advanced as an at-large qualifier in the floor, rings and all-around.
Niles West senior Ryan Bekannon also advanced to the state meet as an at-large qualifier in the floor, parallel bars and high bar.
Titanic effort: Glenbrook South senior Dante Kelekolio paced a contingent of four gymnasts who qualified for the state meet.
Kelekolio qualified for an automatic berth in the floor and vault and added at-large berths in the rings and high bar. Joining him at state are fellow Titans Jose Joya (pommel horse), Matt Rubel (rings) and Forrest Eriksson (rings).
Steve Sadin is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press
Seniors on the Glenbrook North boys gymnastics team had known Cam Hardegree as a classmate and as an outstanding club gymnast.
But until this season, the Spartans never knew Hardegree as a teammate.
Hardegree decided he wanted to be part of the squad after witnessing the team's chemistry at preseason workouts. He was ready for a change from club gymnastics, and senior captain Casey Mutchnik soon realized this season could be one to remember.
"That's when I knew we could have something really special this year," Mutchnik said.
Spartans coach Ryan Dul knew about Hardegree's talent and knew him from their shared time on campus. Dul said he never pressured Hardegree to join the varsity gymnastics team, but the coach was sure happy when he did.
"It was awesome," Dul said.
Hardegree led Glenbrook North to a sectional championship with 157.65 team points last Thursday in Northbrook. He helped put the Spartans in position to contend for the state title Friday in Hoffman Estates.
"This year, I wanted to have a little more fun," Hardegree said. "I won't be doing gymnastics in college. I wanted to be part of a team. You have your teammates cheering for you, and you cheer for them."
When Hardegree heads to Bradley University in the fall, he said he plans to concentrate on cheerleading. But for now, the focus is on his final gymnastics season.
At the sectional meet, Hardegree medaled in all six individual events and placed second in the all-around (54.05). He won the pommel horse (9.40) and finished second in the still rings (8.80) and the vault (9.40).
Sophomore Daniel Lavrentiev earned automatic bids to the state meet in the floor, pommel horse and parallel bars by placing in the top five at the Glenbrook North Sectional. He also earned at-large bids in the all-around, vault and high bar.
Mutchnik qualified for state with a third-place finish on rings and a fourth-place showing on pommel horse. He added at-large berths in the vault and parallel bars.
Anything but routine: Dul said all Spartan gymnasts added difficulty to their routines to increase their scoring potential for the postseason.That worked especially well for Lavrentiev, who had his best meet of the season, according to Dul.
"He's been working hard all year, and everything started coming together the last few weeks," Dul said. "He was just on fire. He had some family here who hadn't seen him perform this year. We may have to require them to come to state."
Lavrentiev added a stutz to his parallel bar rourtine. He said he started from a handstand, swung backward between the bars and returned to a handstand while doing a half-turn to face the opposite way.
"I'd never tried it before in competition," Lavrentiev said. "I was really on top of my performance."
Glenbrook North had the third-highest score among all teams at all sectionals. The five sectional champions will join three at-large teams in the team competition Friday night at the state meet.
Dul said the Glenbrook North gymnasts will add even more difficulty to their routines ahead of the state meet, where a fraction of a point can separate champions from the rest of the pack.
"It's going to be a fun competition," Dul said. "We've been close with Libertyville and Niles West all year. It's going to be about making the hits."
Wolves are winners: Niles West is heading back to the state meet after a stellar showing at the Lyons Sectional last week.
The Wolves won four of the six individual events at Lyons and ran away with the team title with 159.05 points, the second-highest qualifying score in the state.
Fresh off dominating the Central Suburban League meet, sophomore Murun Jamiyankhuu won the floor (9.45), pommel horse (9.30) and all-around (54.40). Senior Jack Nguyen won the rings (9.50), and sophomore Brian Lieo conquered the vault (9.45).
The Wolves won the 2016 state title and once again send a deep team to the state meet. Niles West gymnasts combined to qualify for 24 entries at the state meet.
Byrd, Bekannon rep Vikings: Niles North did not qualify for state as a team out of the Hersey Sectional, but the Vikings will have two gymnasts competing at the state meet.
Senior gymnast Gavin Byrd was an automatic qualifier on the pommel horse (8.50) and the parallel bars (8.90). He also advanced as an at-large qualifier in the floor, rings and all-around.
Niles West senior Ryan Bekannon also advanced to the state meet as an at-large qualifier in the floor, parallel bars and high bar.
Titanic effort: Glenbrook South senior Dante Kelekolio paced a contingent of four gymnasts who qualified for the state meet.
Kelekolio qualified for an automatic berth in the floor and vault and added at-large berths in the rings and high bar. Joining him at state are fellow Titans Jose Joya (pommel horse), Matt Rubel (rings) and Forrest Eriksson (rings).
Steve Sadin is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press