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player ready...Shortly after Glenbrook South had accepted its third-place trophy at the girls gymnastics state meet on Saturday, Titans junior Bebe Haramaras approached coach Steve Gale in the hallway at Palatine High School.
“I told you we would get you that trophy,” Haramaras said with tears in her eyes.
Suddenly, Gale began to well up when he remembered what the gymnast was talking about.
In the fall, Gale, who doubles as the Glenbrook South boys golf coach, led that team to a third-place tie with Barrington at the Class 3A state tournament. However, Barrington received the third-place trophy as the result of a tie-breaker.
Four months later, Gale got his trophy, as the Titans finished third in the state in girls gymnastics. It was Glenbrook South’s best finish since it also took third in 1979, according to coaches, at a time when the format for the state meet had been significantly different.
Glenbrook South scored a program-record 146.675 at this year’s state meet, eclipsing its previous mark of 146.400 set at the Jan. 30 Glenbrook South Regional. State champion Prairie Ridge (148.800) and runner-up DeKalb (146.950) finished ahead of the Titans at state.
“(At the beginning of the season) I told my athletic director (Steve Rockrohr) this could be a special year,” Gale said. “But, you know, you’re only one injury from being gone. So, we tried to keep the kids healthy, and we did. The kids worked at it, the parents worked at it, and we were able to pull together at the end of the season.”
Gale said injures to key gymnasts like senior Hannah Hartley, freshman Jenna Hartley, Haramaras and senior Katie Wahl, had prevented him from fielding the team’s strongest lineup until the regional tournament.
Glenbrook South’s last trip to state had been in 2015, when it finished eighth out of eight qualifying teams.
“We were truly the eighth team (in 2015) and it was just great to get (there),” Gale said. “But (this year) it wasn’t enough to show up. The girls competed. They wanted to do well.”
Hartley heroics
The Hartley sisters, who live in Glenview, certainly established themselves as the first family of Illinois high school gymnastics for this year.
Hannah finished second in the all-around (38.025), fourth on balance beam (9.325) and she tied for fifth on vault (9.650). Jenna, meanwhile, tied for fourth on floor exercise (9.525), tied for seventh on vault (9.600), was eighth in the all-around (37.500) and came in 11th on beam (8.725).
However, Hannah Hartley said the team trophy meant more than any individual honors.
“I’m in shock,” Hannah Hartley said after the team competition on Friday. “We wanted to get a trophy and we got a trophy. I cannot put into words how happy I am and how proud of everybody I am.”
Hannah Hartley said she was particularly impressed by the poise her sister showed competing at her first state meet.
“(Jenna) handles pressure so well,” Hannah Hartley said. “As a freshman at state, I did not do well, and my sophomore year I cracked under pressure, too. I feel like I’ve gotten better, but she’s just always been good with pressure.”
Hannah Hartley added: “It’s just the best feeling knowing I can be there when (Jenna) gets off events, cheering her on, telling her good job and that I love her.”
Glenbrook Soul girl
Haramaras made a vital contribution to the team score, including finishing 18th in the all-around (36.325) and tying for 14th on vault (9.475).
Gale also called the junior the “soul and spirit” of the team, citing her work ethic and how she rallies the team before meets and specific events.
“I love hearing that,” said Haramaras, who lives in Glenview. “I do it because I want my team to be motivated and do the best they can. I see how talented they are, and I feel it’s my responsibility to make sure they know that.”
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Glenbrook North
Junior Kelly Lazar was the lone Glenbrook North gymnast to qualify for state, advancing to Palatine on vault. She was the first vaulter in the first rotation during Friday’s prelims. She ended up tying for 29th (9.250).
“I was a little scared (going first), but also it was a good thing because then I get it over with, I don’t have to stress out the whole meet,” said Lazar, who lives in Northbrook. “I was happy with my vault. My goal was just not to fall, and I did it, so I was happy.”
Dan Shalin is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press