Girls gymnastics: Rachel Hoying, Katie Rake lead New Trier in “A Star is Born” meet

Updated: December 15, 2011 10:40PM

It’s not that New Trier has never won the “A Star is Born” gymnastics meet

before -- it’s more like the Trevians have never even come close.

So it was certainly a surprise for New Trier coach Jennifer Pistorius that

her team not only placed on Thursday night at Niles West High School but

actually went home in first place.

Led by youngsters Rachel Hoying and Katie Rake, the Trevians posted a 60.350

to win the annual meet.

“We have a lot of depth,” Pistorius said. “It’s nice to get a trophy.”

Maine South placed second in this 12-team meet. The Hawks finished with a

60.150. Home-standing Niles West placed third (58.300).

This fun meet allows performers who average under 7.8 to have a chance to

shine. That means plenty of underclassmen saw action in this event.

“It kind of levels the playing field,” said Niles North assistant coach

Adrian Batista. “It gives them a chance at getting an award.”

Following behind the top three on this night were: Deerfield (4th, 57.425),

Mundelein (5th, 56.250), Niles North (6th, 55.300), Maine West (7th,

52.700), Evanston (8th, 52.100), Lake Forest (9th, 50.100), Highland Park

(10th, 50.050), Maine East (11th, 47.550) and Fenton (12th, 46.100).

Standing out in this meet were both Hoying and Rake from New Trier who went

1-2 on floor exercise. Hoying went home in first place (8.350). Rake scored

a 8.250. Lake Forest’s Laura Blake was third (7.750). On uneven bars,

Highland Park’s Emily Ablin took first (7.950). She was followed by Maine

East’s Kathy Kolodziejski (2nd, 7.750), and Niles West’s Kelly Sanks (3rd,

7.650) and Susan McNichols (4th, 7.500). McNichols also placed third on the

balance beam (7.250).

“We are happy with our girls,’’ Batista said. “We had some juniors

competing.”

Pistorius was naturally pleased with the win but still watched her team hit

a few bumps.

“It was a great meet,” she said. “But we had a bunch of falls on beam.”

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