A year after taking third in the state, the program’s best finish since the 1978-79 school year, the Glenbrook South girls gymnastics team once again appears ready for a postseason run, and freshman Sheena Graham is a major reason the Titans have remained one of the top teams in Illinois.
The addition of Graham, an all-arounder, has helped offset the loss of Hannah Hartley, who graduated after finishing second in the state in the all-around, fourth on balance beam and tying for fifth on vault last season.
Graham had what she called her best meet of the regular season on Jan. 18, when she won or tied for first in every event and the all-around in the Titans’ 146.51-118.80 home win over Evanston.
Graham won the all-around (37.65), balance beam (9.50) and floor exercise (9.35). Graham and sophomore teammate Jenna Hartley, Hannah’s sister, tied for first on uneven bars (9.20) and vault (9.60). The vault is regularly Graham’s highest-scoring event.
“That was the best meet for me personally. I was consistent on every routine and hit four of four,” said Graham, whose team finished 3-2 in the competitive Central Suburban South and placed second at the conference meet on Saturday. “I had a good beam routine, 9.5 was my high score (of the season). I also really liked it because it was senior night and everyone was cheering really loud for the seniors.”
The varsity team’s two seniors are Bebe Haramaras and Kylie Kruger, and both are talented gymnasts. But it’s Jenna Hartley and Graham who have regularly found themselves at the top of the standings in dual meets and invites this season. As a freshman last winter, Jenna Hartley tied for fourth in the state on floor, tied for seventh on vault and came in eighth in the all-around (37.500).
Graham and Jenna Hartley are club teammates at Dreams Gymnastics in Glenview, and it was Jenna Hartley who was instrumental in convincing Graham to come out for high school gymnastics, which is not always the route talented club gymnasts take.
Graham said she was initially a bit skeptical about competing in high school, but decided to give it a try. It didn’t take long for her to become convinced she was in the right place.
“Jenna said it was fun, and I (decided) I wanted to experience it with her,” Graham said. “But at first, I was doubting myself, because I heard you could lose some skills (being away from the club). But it’s really fun. I’m probably going to do high school throughout my four years.”
Glenbrook South coach Steve Gale said he knew about Graham before the season thanks to conversations he’d had with coaches from Dreams, but said high school gymnastics coaches still have to wait until the first day of practice to see “who comes in the door.”
Gale said Graham came in and made an instant impression. In her first meet, Graham scored a 36.70 in the all-around and won the all-around, vault, bars and floor against Deerfield on Nov. 30.
“(Graham) has done very well for us and we’re very excited,” Gale said. “Her scores sort of fill the gap left by Hannah Hartley. We feel we’re as strong as we were last year as a team, and perhaps a bit better … on a good day.”
Though the Titans have relied on Graham, the Glenview resident said she has not felt the burden of replacing Hannah Hartley, whom Graham knew from club gymnastics.
“(Coach) Gale didn’t put any pressure on me, just told me to work hard in the gym and do a lot of routines (in practice),” Graham said. “He said that you are supposed to succeed at meets, but you can’t succeed all the time.”
But Graham mostly has succeeded thus far. The only thing to slow her down has been a minor back injury, which forced her out of the Jan. 6 Evanston invite and reduced her to competing in just bars and beam at the Jan. 11 dual meet at Maine South.
Gale said Graham has what it takes to be a major factor during this state series, which begins today when Glenbrook South hosts a regional.
“Well, I don’t want to jinx myself by saying anything, but she’s in good position right now to help the team do well in the state series,” Gale said about Graham. “If she stays healthy and works out hard in the offseason, which I know she will, she will continue to be a force. I look forward to three more full years with that young lady on the team.”
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Dan Shalin is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press