State Bound: Wheaton Gymnastics Co-op Punches its Ticket

The Wheaton co-op boys gymnastics team continued its season-long dominance during Wednesday’s Wheaton Warrenville South sectional, punching its ticket to next weekend’s state finals, cruising past runner-up Elk Grove Village, 158.7 to 140.950.

It was yet another double-digit victory for Wheaton co-op. After winning the DuPage Valley Conference by 11, the Donaldson by 28 and its final dual meet by 46, the team will finally say farewell to its home gym and jump on the bus next week and head to Lincoln-Way East on May 13.

"We still have some improvements to make, but I felt pretty good about how the kids grinded through some of the harder routines," Wheaton co-op coach Chad Downie said. "For the most part I thought it was a good meet. We just had to get through to the state meet, that's all that matters."

Senior Darren Fill won the all-around with a 54.7 and should be in contention now for the all-around state title. Fill advanced in all six events, winning still rings with a 9.05, vault with a 9.4 and tying for first place on parallel bars with an 8.7.

“We had a lot of confidence going in and also knowing we have another week to build," Fill said. “I don’t think we’ve peaked yet, but we need to peak in a week. We’re all excited about it and how close we are. We have this huge fire on our heels right now and it’s just pushing us.”

Fellow senior Mike Brackmann was third in the all-around with a 52.4. Brackmann tied for second on pommel horse with a 9.05 and won horizontal bar with a 9.45.

“We were nervous because it was our last home hurrah,” he said. “I really think we could’ve gone 160 tonight but that’s all part of the learning process. We have to realize those mistakes we made and fix them before state.”

Mark Ciesielski tied for first place on floor with a 9.55 while freshman Ethan Sansone wasn’t intimidated by his first state series meet, tying for second on pommel horse with a 9.05 and was third on floor with a 9.4.

“We just wanted to have fun today, finish strong and give the seniors a good meet to go out with,” Ciesielski said. “It’s really exciting to be able to go to state as a team now and have another week to bond.”

The team competition will begin on Friday, May 13 at Lincoln-Way East in Frankfort at 6 p.m.

Wheaton co-op individual gymnast results (Bold designates qualified for state)

Brackmann, Mike: 8.55 floor, 9.05 pommel horse, 8.2 still rings, 9.1 vault, 8.05 parallel bars, 9.45 high bar, 52.4 all-around

Fill, Darren: 9.25 floor, 8.9 pommel horse, 9.05 rings, 9.4 vault, 8.7 parallel bars, 9.4 high bar, 54.7 all-around

Ciesielski, Mark: 9.55 floor, 8.85 vault

Fisher, Charlie: 6.95 still rings, 9.05 vault

Heller, Danny: 8.45 pommel horse, 7.25 high bar

Jordan, Chris: 6.3 still rings

Jurkowski, Max: 8.65 floor

Neal, Zack: 6.6 still rings, 7.050 parallel bars, 8.3 high bar

Ronaldson, Nick: 6.05 pommel horse

Sansone, Ethan: 9.4 floor, 9.05 pommel horse, 8.95 vault, 7.850 parallel bars, 7.55 high bar

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