Michaela Robert has gotten better and better each winter as a Naperville North gymnast.
If the trend continues she’s likely to have her best-ever finish when she heads to Palatine on Feb. 20-21 for the IHSA state gymnastics finals.
Sandburg/Stagg co-op freshman Maddy Roe edged Robert, 37.875-37.825 in the all-around competition in Wednesday’s Hinsdale Central Sectional, but Robert came away with two championships, winning bars with a 9.525 and floor with a 9.675.
“This was probably my best turnout in four years of sectionals ,” she said. “It’s kind of weird. This is the only place where I’ve stuck beam consecutively. I’m really happy with how I hit and very excited to move on to the state meet again.”
Indeed, it was her best finish in a sectional as her all-around score has risen every year. After a 35.875 as a freshman, she had a 36.975 her sophomore year, a 37.05 last year, and now a 37.825.
“Personally, I was hoping she’d get that all-around title, but second with a 37.825 is impressive,” Huskies coach Chris Stanicek said. “I think this was a great meet for a couple of reasons. It gives her the confidence that she needs for the state meets and she knows she belongs there. Her regional meet was awesome, too. I think she’s right where she needs to be right now for state.”
Robert will be making her fourth consecutive appearance in the all-around at state. After finishing 31st and 29th in her first two seasons, she took 12th place last year.
She also advanced to the individual event finals last February, placing seventh on vault with a 9.475 and third on bars with a 9.475 as well.
“I’m ready to give it my all, no regrets,” she said. “That’s the mentality I’ve stuck with the whole season and it’s helped me get this far so I’ll stick to it.”
It’s been an amazing four-year ride for Robert and Stanicek regardless of what happens in Palatine.
“She’s been so consistent throughout her senior year so I’m excited to see her cap off a stunning career,” Stanicek said. “She’s been impressive. I’m glad I’ve been able to be a part of it because she’s such a great kid.”
Naperville Central junior Jill Schuberth will also represent the area in the state finals. Schuberth will compete on floor and beam, after scoring a 9.45 and 9.175 respectively on Wednesday.
She also could move on as an all-arounder. She recorded a 36.375, and the cutoff stood at 36.175 prior to the Lake Park Sectional on Thursday.
“It’s pretty amazing to be going again,” she said. “No one else (at Naperville Central) qualified but my varsity teammates are going to stay with me and practice so I don’t have to be alone, and they’ll come along next Friday.”
Schuberth may modify her beam and floor routines to give herself a better chance of advancing to the event finals.
“I added a different front pass on floor already this year and maybe I’ll change it up a bit,” she said. “On beam I’m basically doing the same thing, except last year my dismount counted as a series. Now it doesn’t, so I’m trying to put in some different stuff.”
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She finished fifth on beam at state last year with a 9.35.
Lastly, Waubonsie Valley/Metea Valley co-op sophomore Claire Samojedny scored a 9.2 on bars on Wednesday and was awaiting the results of the Lake Park Sectional to see if she earned an at-large berth.
Chris R. Walker is a freelance writer.