The New Trier girls gymnastics team’s fourth-place finish at the state tournament was the program’s best since it occupied the same spot in 2013.
But equaling that success seemed like a bit of a long shot in the days leading up to state after junior all-arounder Darcy Barkal suffered a severely sprained right ankle in practice.
On Feb. 14, just two days before the state prelims, Barkal said she heard a pop while landing a leap on floor exercise. Barkal, who battled a left ankle sprain earlier in the year, said she was discouraged by the injury, but determined to be ready for state.
“I was really sick (that) week, and (after the injury) was thinking, ‘What more could go wrong?'” said Barkal, a Glencoe resident competing in her first high school gymnastics season. “But I knew I was going go to state no matter what.”
Barkal trained lightly the following day and had the ankle heavily taped for the prelims Friday at Palatine. Barkal estimated she was competing at about 40 to 50 percent. Barkal said adrenaline and the enthusiasm of her New Trier teammates helped her battle through the pain, which at times times caused dizziness.
Yet, Barkal turned in a strong Friday performance and helped the Trevians improve on last season’s fifth-place finish in the team competition. Barkal finished 18th in the all-around (36.425) and scored a 9.600 on vault, which was good for fifth after the prelims.
The top 10 finishers in each event qualified for Saturday’s finals.
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“For Darcy to do what she did — hit bars, stay on beam — I was just so proud of her,” New Trier coach Jen Pistorius said. “Every time she did a jump or a trick, I was watching that ankle.”
Pistorius said she didn’t realize the true scope of the injury until Barkal removed the tape after prelims.
“I looked at her ankle and was like, ‘Are you kidding me?'” Pistorius said. “It was huge, very swollen, very bruised. It wasn’t that bad in the days before state. Only she knew how bad it was. It’s a true testament to (Barkal’s) strength.”
Barkal said she visited a doctor Saturday morning. She was told the injury was a fracture or a bad sprain that would prevent her from competing in Saturday’s finals. Barkal attended the finals on crutches and with her foot in a walking boot.
New Trier sophomore Maeve Murdock was the only Trevians gymnast to compete in the finals. She finished eighth on balance beam with an 8.800. Murdock tied for first on beam in 2017.
Murdock also finished 15th in the all-around (36.675).
Dan Shalin is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press