 The IHSA Girls Gymnastics State Finals are closing in on 40 years of history, as the 39th annual state final event is slated to be contested on February 20-21 at Palatine High School. The tournament will air live on the NFHS Network via www.IHSA.tv with a subscription or Comcast/Xfinity authentication.
Friday’s action will determine an individual All-Around champion and factor into the team scoring. On Saturday, individual state champions will be crowned in the Vault, Uneven Parallel Bars, Balance Beam and Floor Exercise. Friday’s prelims will determine the Top 10 competitors in each event that move on to Saturday’s finals. Team points are accumulated on Friday, but competitors can add to their team total on Saturday with a higher scoring routine.
Lyons is looking to make history of its own at the event, as the two-time defending state champs vie to become the fifth program in state history to win three consecutive titles or more. The Lions are led by senior Kelsy Kurfirst, who claimed the Floor Exercise state title a year ago, while the 2013 and 2014 team runner-up, Prairie Ridge Coop, also welcomes back a state champ in senior Rachael Underwood (Vault).
Geneva’s Claire Rose Ginsberg claimed the All-Around state title at the 2014 State Finals as a freshman and now looks to lead Geneva to its first trophy in school history after she won two other events (Balance Beam, Floor Exercise) at Sectionals this season.
Warren senior Emily Basara (Vault, Floor Excercise) won a pair of Sectional titles this season and will be a top challenger for the All-Around crown, while Sandburg’s Maddy Roe tries to become the second straight freshmen to win the All-Around title.
Barrington junior Abby Hasanov rounds out the list of returning champions after tying for first in the uneven parallel bars at the state meet last year, where she helped the Broncos to a Top 5 finish (4th) for the first time since winning state in 2000.
Fremd belongs to the aforementioned three-peat club and will be a contender again with a veteran team that features seniors Sydney Plichta and Christine Radochonski.
Below is a look at last year’s state champions and this season’s Sectional winners:
VAULT
2014 State Champion: Rachael Underwood, Prairie Ridge (9.8000)
2015 Sectional Champions: Aleah Leman, DeKalb (9.6750); Maddy Roe, Sandburg (9.7000); Emily Basara, Gurnee Warren (9.7000); Rachael Underwood, Prairie Ridge (9.7250)
UNEVEN PARALLEL BARS
2014 State Champion: Abby Hasanov, Barrington & Michelle Cozza, Lyons (Tie, 9.5000)
2015 Sectional Champions: Allison Wahrman, Glenbard North (9.6000); Michaela Robert, Naperville North (9.5250); McKenzie Kehr, Mundelein (9.4250); Rachael Underwood, Prairie Ridge ( 9.7250)
BALANCE BEAM
2014 State Champion: Alyssa Weisberg, Stevenson (9.6500)
2015 Sectional Champions: Claire Rose Ginsberg, Geneva (9.4750); Kelsy Kurfirst, Lyons (9.4250); Claire Sullivan, Loyola (9.3000); Maddie Larock, Prospect (9.5750)
FLOOR EXERCISE
2014 State Champion: Kelsy Kurfirst, Lyons (9.6750)
2015 Sectional Champions: Claire Rose Ginsberg, Geneva (9.7500); Michaela Robert, Naperville North (9.6750); Samantha Lococo, Carmel & Emily Basara, Gurnee Warren (9.6500); Nikki Baars, Prairie Ridge (9.7250)
ALL-AROUND
2014 State Champion: Claire Rose Ginsberg, Geneva (37.8750)
2015 Sectional Champions: Claire Rose Ginsberg, Geneva (38.1750); Maddy Roe Sandburg (37.8750); Emily Basara, Gurnee Warren (37.4750); Rachael Underwood, Prairie Ridge (38.3750)
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TOURNAMENT HISTORY
39th annual State Series
37th year at Palatine HS
SITE
Palatine HS (Palatine)
Directions
SCHEDULE
Friday, February 20
4:50 p.m.- Parade of
Competitors followed by: Vaulting, Uneven
Parallel Bars, Balance Beam and Floor Exercise.
Saturday, February 21
5:25 p.m. - Parade of
Competitors followed by:
Vaulting, Uneven Parallel Bars, Balance Beam
and Floor Exercise.
QUALIFIERS & RESULTS
Qualifiers
Results: Friday
Saturday
INTERACT
Twitter:
@IHSAState #IHSA
Photos
State Final Gear
WATCH
All performances available LIVE on www.IHSA.tv
TICKETS
$10 per session
LISTEN
No audio broadcasts currently scheduled for this event
HISTORY & RECORDS
2015 State Series Results
Record Book & Past Champions
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