Carmona, York get job done

After a year of waiting, Christian Carmona and York got some redemption.

York, which finished second last year, won its first boys' gymnastics state title since 1983 Friday at Barrington. York scored a school-record 163.70 to finish ahead of Lincoln-Way co-op, which was second with a 161.60.

Palatine was third with a 156.25 while Glenbrook South was fourth with a 156.10.

"I thought we might give it away," Carmona said. "But we are much tougher than we were a year ago.

"We came back tonight when we were down and pulled it together."

Carmona, along with his brother Kyle and teammate Caleb Strejc, fell short a year ago and finished second to Palatine. But the trio vowed to not let that happen again this year.

"It was definitely on our minds," Christian Carmona said. "But we went 17-for-18 and that made the difference."

That one miss had the Dukes thinking after Strejc fell on his dismount on the high bar. But the Dukes came back to post strong scores on the floor and the pommel horse to pull away.

"It was tough after I fell," Strejc said. "But I knew I could come back on the final two events and I did."

For York coach Rich Larsen, there was relief to go with his tears of joy.

"I am really speechless," said Larsen, who is retiring this year. "I have been telling them all year that good things will come. They just needed to hit their routines and stay focused. And they did just that."