Maddie Giglio did not picture herself winning a medal on balance beam during Saturday’s state championship finals.
But that’s where the Sandburg/Stagg co-op sophomore landed in Palatine, taking third with a 9.4 score.
“Even after (Friday’s preliminaries) I didn’t think I’d get up there for an award so it’s a pretty great feeling,” Giglio said. “I was just trying to place in the top five. That was really my only goal and I did a pretty good beam routine.”
Wheaton North freshman Jamie LaBue won beam with a 9.525 and Neuqua Valley freshman Jane Riehs placed second with a 9.475.
“I had some wobbles and there were some nerves but overall it went really well,” Giglio said. “I’m pretty proud for doing my best and making it up there.”
Giglio earned a 9.425 during the preliminaries, which was the highest score among the final 12 competitors.
“She ran with everybody else and threw a great routine,” Sandburg/Stagg coach Mike White said. “So it’s not like she has anything to look back on, because she’s been solid all year. She got her medal like she deserved. I’m sure she wished she would’ve won.
“But I don’t think anybody is walking away disappointed, and beam is the hardest event to medal on. And being a sophomore she’s still got two great shots at it.”
Sandburg/Stagg senior Maddy Roe, who missed most of the season with an injury, was by Giglio’s side to provide support and guidance.
Roe knows first-hand how beam can be both heartbreaking and rewarding. She qualified for the event finals last February but had an uncharacteristic fall that kept her from placing. She settled for seventh place.
“I was glad she was here to help me stay calm out there,” Giglio said. “She was giving me pointers on what to do and what not to do and to mainly not get worked up.”
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Roe’s advice focused primarily on confidence.
“I just told her that she could do it and to just stay confident,” Roe said. “I told her not to doubt herself. I’m super proud of her. I think she did the best that she definitely could’ve done and it paid off.”
Giglio was trying to win the program’s first beam title and its first individual event championship since assistant coach Krystyn Misheck won the floor exercise in 2009.
“I get 10 times more nervous coaching than competing, but I love it,” Misheck said. “You put so much effort and time with them that you almost feel like family.”
C.R. Walker is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.