Girls Gymnastics: Barrington qualifies for sectionals across the board
BY CHARLES BERMAN cberman@pioneerlocal.com February 7, 2012 11:02PM
Palatine Friday 02.03.12. Barrington's Tiffany Persels competes on the vault during an IHSA regional gymnastics meet on Friday, February 3, 2012, at Palatine High School. | Buzz Orr~Sun-Times Media
this week
BARRINGTON
Friday
Boys diving hosts MSL diving meet, 6 p.m.
Boys basketball at Hoffman Estates, 7:30 p.m.
Wrestling hosts Class 3A Ind. sectional, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday
Wrestling hosts Class 3A Ind. sectional, 9 a.m.
Boys swimming hosts MSL swimming meet, 1 p.m.
Tuesday
Boys basketball at South Elgin, 7:15 p.m.
Girls basketball at Class 4A Libertyville Regional vs. Prospect, 8:10 p.m.
Article Extras
Updated: March 11, 2012 8:19AM
Barrington gymnastics coach Jason Loeffler outlined two goals for the Fillies before Friday night’s Palatine Regional: Qualify as a team for sectionals and advance several gymnasts to the next level of competition.
The Fillies went out and accomplished both, posting a 139.575 team mark. The score left Barrington just 1.275 behind regional champ Palatine, but was good enough to earn the Fillies an at-large bid and the fifth seed in Tuesday’s Lake Park Sectional.
“We actually beat (Palatine) on all the events, except beam,” said Loeffler, agreeing that the Fillies view their MSL West rival as a measuring stick. “They have beat us all year long. So obviously, going into regionals, we knew Palatine was going to be tough. We thought it was going to be close, and it was. Everybody’s common goal was to get through to sectionals. It would have been nice to get the win, but we get another chance to compete against Palatine, and we still went through as a team into sectionals.”
Five Fillies — seniors Tiffany Persels, Marissa Krzysko and Claire Timlin, and freshmen Jessica Lee and Jada Jones — busted through to the next round.
Persels qualified in all-around, and on floor exercise, uneven bars and vault. Lee made the cut on balance beam, vault and in all-around.
“I think Tiffany Persels is up there with the best gymnasts in the state,” Loeffler said. “So is Jessica.”
On the team bus to Lake Park Tuesday afternoon, Persels said she was most confident in her floor exercise routine. Her Palatine Regional-best 9.5 is proof.
“I would like to make it to State on everything I made it to sectionals on,” Persels said. “(The key is) being confident in everything I’ve practiced. Just go out there and have fun, put my heart out there. My mentality is to just go out there and do my best.”
The senior has never made it to the state meet, and neither has any of the other current Fillies.
Timlin got a shot to advance on vault and bars, as she received at-large bids to sectionals in both events. Krzysko delivered a second-place 8.925 on bars Friday night, and also advanced on beam via an at-large berth. Jones’ 8.825 floor exercise earned her a trip to sectionals, too.
“If we hit all of our routines, I think this team can go to State,” Persels said.
Loeffler envisions Barrington Red-and-Black performing at least a half-dozen routines on the state’s grandest stage Feb. 17-18 at Palatine.
“You never know what will happen in competition,” he said. “(You) throw what (you) have, and hopefully it can get as many through as possible.”
Sectional
Persels earned an automatic bid to the state meet by scoring 9.350 on floor exercise and placing fifth at the Lake Park Sectional.
Persels and the rest of the Fillies will find out today (Thursday) following the Niles North Sectional who else advanced with at-large berths.
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