After taking a year off from gymnastics competition, Hinsdale South senior Lauren Haney will need some time to get back in the swing of things. Haney knows she has much work to do after skipping last season to concentrate on academics.
After her second invitational of the season Saturday at the Red Devil Invite, Haney sported a nasty bruise on the outside of her right thigh. That’s where she smacked herself when she slipped on the balance beam, but managed to hold on and not fall completely to the ground.
“I have never done that before,” Haney said. “I don’t know how I stayed on.”
Haney placed 24th on the beam (7.7) and 22nd (32.20) out of 26 all-arounders at Hinsdale Central. Hinsdale South junior Maddie Nowak (36.85) won the all-around by capturing titles on vault (9.55) and beam (8.6) and placing runner-up on uneven bars (9.45) and floor exercise (9.25).
Haney started preparing for her return to the Hornets in June under the watch of first-year coach Mia Tritch, who had been an assistant coach in the program.
“I’m trying to be more consistent,” said Haney, who tied for 14th on vault (8.7), placed 24th on floor (8.25) and finished 31st on bars (7.4). “Obviously, today is not how I usually do.”
Hinsdale South (132.75) placed sixth out of eight teams Saturday at Hinsdale Central. Hornets freshman Kaitlin Hall (32.35) took 20th on all-around and junior Erica Meyer (31.30) was 24th.
Tritch is working with a whole new group and none of Hinsdale South’s four varsity competitors competed last season. She is hoping a few of her JV gymnasts will improve enough to work individual events and give the Hornets depth.
“It’s nice to add my touch to the program now,” said Tritch, who was an assistant to former coach Jenny Fichter the past four seasons. “I have taken a lot of stuff from Jenny. I saw what she does and incorporated it [into the team]. It’s nice to have overall [control] of the program now.”
Tritch has been able to improve the program’s numbers. She has 11 competitors on JV I and 21 at JV II and has 17 freshmen.
Sandburg/Stagg won the Red Devil with 138.05 points, while Hinsdale Central took runner-up at 137.45 and Oak Park-River Forest scored 130.65.