Dreams really do come true.
Just ask Jane Riehs.
More Top Picks Hammock Stands
The Neuqua Valley freshman went to bed thinking about her next beam routine, and then did it better than ever.
Riehs was in a three-way tie for 10th place during Friday’s preliminaries of the girls gymnastics state meet, earning the final spot in Saturday’s finals at Palatine. She took second place Saturday with a 9.475.
“I dreamed that I was going to hit my routine like I did, so when I went out there, I tried to make that dream come true,” she said. “Once I stuck that dismount, I knew it was one of the best routines I’ve done this year.
“I was pleased with the score. But I didn’t know it was going to be that high, maybe 9.3, so I was surprised by the score.”
Riehs had a 9.225 during the preliminaries, the same score she had during the Sandburg Sectional to qualify for state. She tallied a 9.05 at the Hinsdale Central Regional.
“Since I had tied for 10th and barely got in, I knew I was going to have to really stand out,” she said of Friday’s prelims. “I knew I was going to have to hit a good routine, so I just went to bed and ended up dreaming of doing it.”
Riehs pointed out she didn’t do much different from Friday’s performance.
“I got rid of any wobbles so maybe I was more relaxed,” she said. “Before beam I was relaxing and chilling out, and that seems to help me hit a routine.
“If I laugh a little and chill, then maybe my mind is elsewhere because if it was on beam I probably would’ve been all stressed out.”
Riehs, who was trying to become the first Wildcats gymnast to win a state title, has three years left to make it happen. She also was trying to become the first Naperville area gymnast to win an individual championship since Naperville North’s Shannon O’Brien won beam in 2001.
St. Charles North senior Emma Grace Redmond-Mattucci made her fourth state appearance and advanced to Saturday’s finals for the first time.
Redmond-Mattucci tied for ninth with a 9.375 in the prelims and then concluded her career with a 9.3 to finish 10th.
Her shining moment, though, came Friday as she hit all her routines and placed 11th in the all-around with a 36.975.
“We went wild a bit, and there were a lot of joyful tears for this final moment because I’ve never made it to the finals and never hit 4-for-4,” Redmond-Mattucci said. “It was an amazing experience, and I feel happy for anyone who ever makes it here.”
While she had been hopeful to be a part of a team that qualified for state, Redmond-Mattucci said she has no regrets.
“In the end, I can say I was top 10 in the state,” she said. “I think that’s a huge accomplishment and a really big sendoff. I was one of the only seniors in this year’s finals, so I’m OK.”
C.R. Walker is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.