Next year finally here for Deutsch

Steve Deutsch edged Lincoln-Way’s Dan Hutton 56.60-56.40 for the all-around title.
(Stacia Timonere/For the Sun-Times)

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Glenbrook South's Steve Deutsch was finally able to shed the injury bug and turn it into a state all-around title.

Deutsch overcame three years of frustration Saturday to win the all-around title by edging Lincoln-Way Co-op's Dan Hutton 56.60-56.40 at the boys state gymnastics finals at Barrington.

"It has been a rough three years," said Deutsch, who still competed each year with the injuries and finished fifth in the state last year.

"It was a great feeling, obviously a first time for me. It was not as clean as I would have liked, but it was good enough."

"Steve is a great kid and a hard worker and self-starter," Glenbrook South coach Steve Gale said.

Naperville Central's Keith Lage was third with a 55.80. Palatine's Matt Eckardt was fourth with a 54.95 and was followed by Downers Grove North's Doug Rybar, who scored a 54.35.

York's Christian Carmona, who won the all-around title last year and helped lead the Dukes to the state team title on Friday, opted to skip Saturday's competition and go to Michigan for the United States Gymnatics Association national competition.

Deutsch kept things rolling Saturday night  in the individual finals. Deutsch won the pommel horse with a 9.50.

Hutton did not go away without a title as the senior won the high bar with a 9.50.

Wheaton Co-op's Tim Krueger tripled his fun, winning three events. Krueger won the vault with a 9.80, the parallel bars with a 9.55 and tied Lage on the floor with a 9.65.

" I have been working hard to stay consistent," Krueger said. "I try to take the things I have problems on and work them so I can do them in my sleep."

Lage also won the rings with a 9.50.