School record sends Saxons to state

Updated: March 23, 2011 9:26AM

Brooke Shimon and Ashley Miller helped Schaumburg's dream come true Thursday the girls gymnastics sectional at Niles West in Skokie. The duo helped the Saxons to the sectional title with a school-record 147.40 and earn the Saxons their first-ever appearance as a team in the state finals.

"It is so great to be going to the state finals as a team," said Miller, who was nursing a hyperextended left knee.

"Brooke and I have gone as individuals the last couple of years. But to have our whole team there now is a dream come true,"

"This is exactly what we have been working for," said Shimon, who won the all-around with a 37.60.

"We didn't think about anything as an individual tonight it was all about the team."

Schaumburg finished ahead of Prospect, which was second with a 141.925. New Trier was third with a 140.85. Neither of those scores qualified those teams as at-large teams.

Schaumburg will be joined in next Friday's finals with sectional winners Carmel, Glenbard West and Hinsdale Central. The at-large teams, all of which advanced from Monday's sectional at Stevenson, are Stevenson, Lake Forest, Fremd and Prairie Ridge.

"To be the first Schaumburg team going to the state meet is fantastic," Schaumburg coach Jamie Stilling said. "And to set a another school record just makes it even better."

Miller tied St. Edward's Abby Madden for second in the all-around with a 37.225. Niles North's Citali Cuevas was fourth with a 36.875 and Conant's Briane Bibel and Prospect's Gianna Scala were fifth with a 36.775.

Shimon won the bars with a 9.375 and the beam with a 9.55. Cuevas won the vault with a 9.65 and Scala won the floor with a 9.625.

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