Girls Gymnastics: Persels lone Barrington performer to make state meet

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Arlington Heights Saturday, 12/3/11 Barrington's Tiffany Persels performs on the balance beam during Saturday's Al Galatte Gymnastics Invitational. | Brian O'Mahoney~for Sun-Times Media

Updated: March 17, 2012 10:13AM

Four years ago, Kelsey Persels led the Barrington girls gymnastic team into the state meet, and also turned her appearance into a spot representing Illinois in nationals.

Younger sister Tiffany will be chasing down the same gymnastics dream Friday night. Persels’ 9.35 score on floor exercise in sectionals last week vaulted the senior to her first state-meet berth — and marked the Fillies’ only state-qualifying routine.

“My sister has been my gymnastics inspiration,” the younger Persels said. “I have looked up to her since I was 4 years old, just starting in gymnastics. She’s been my rock though the hard times, and she’s been giving me great advice.”

Kelsey’s presence has already proven to be more important than the support she will provide from the stands Friday night. Leading up to the state’s big meet at Palatine, the sisters have already been working together to prepare.

“She just tells me to put my heart out there, and that’s all you can do,” Tiffany Persels said. “She’s confident I can get to finals.”

Persels was back in the Barrington gym on Tuesday, adding difficulty to her tumbling passes. A new front double full maneuver, which features a handspring front layout with a double twist, could boost her routine above the 9.5 to 9.6 range, which Persels sees as enough to make Saturday’s state finals.

“It’s one of the most difficult passes I’ve ever throw in,” she reported. “It’s very hard to land — and land very well.”

She tried implementing the move earlier in the season, but had a tough time hitting it consistently. Persels will need to land it at State, as 10 floor exercise routines at or above 9.5 were secured in the Lake Park Sectional alone.

“I’ve been hitting it in practice, so hopefully it goes well,” she said. “I only get one chance on Friday night. It’s nerve-racking to know you can make one little mistake and it can take you out of the finals.”

Persels also is confident because she has scored in that range several times, including a 9.5 to win the Palatine Regional.

In addition to the technical routine, Persels said she will amp up her “bubbly” personality Friday night to make a statement.

“If I don’t go to finals it will be my last routine in high school,” Persels noted. “I will definitely crank it up, get the crowd involved and get the judges interested. They watch routines all day. You need to give them something different to watch.”

Before practice on Tuesday, Fillies coach Jason Loeffler also stressed Persels’ ability to put on a show.

“What’s nice about Tiffany is, when she hits the floor she demands attention,” he said. “She’s a showman on floor. It makes you notice her. And on Friday night, we are looking at it as all or nothing. She is going to throw everything into that floor routine and hope we are going to make it to finals.”

Persels added that her nerves are also shakier because she will be the lone Barrington representative at the state meet. Teammates Marissa Krzysko, Claire Timlin, Jessica Lee and Jada Jones competed in sectionals but could not bust through to the final round.

“It’s sad to not have my teammates with me,” she said. “I know many will come to support me, but it will be pretty lonely to be down there by myself.”

Added Loeffler: “It’s a little disappointing, but I have a team that worked very hard this season. Not making it through is tough, but it’s part of competition.”