Miller overcomes injuries, leads Schaumburg

Updated: March 23, 2011 9:32AM

Ashley Miller overcame a hyperextended knee in warmups to help Schaumburg take a step forward Thursday at the girls' gymnastics regionals at Schaumburg. Miller led the Saxons to the team title with a 144.65.

"I hyperextended my left knee on my bar warming up on the bars," Miller said. "I watered down my routine and did a fly-away dismount."

Despite the precautions, Miller's bar routine was good enough to win with a 9.575.

But while Miller was able to move forward, it was not as huge of a step forward as the Saxons had hoped as Schaumburg struggled on the floor. Both Caitlin Barrett and Brooke Shimon had stumbles and falls on their routines as Schaumburg scored just a 35.00.

"We got too tight later in the meet," Schaumburg coach Jamie Stilling said. "I told the girls too look at what they had accomplished and have some fun."

Still, Thursday's score puts the Saxons as the team to beat in next week's sectional at Niles North. A victory there would ensure Schaumburg of its first-ever state finals appearance.

"We now know what we need to improve on now," Stilling said. "The girls have been through some of the pressure of state competition. So we will be better at it."

Shimon finished third in the all-around with a 36.65. She also won the vault with a 9.475 and the beam with a 9.50

St. Edward's Abby Madded won the floor with a 9.35.

St. Edward, who does not have a team this year, got strong performances from the Madden sisters. Abby, who is a sophomore, was second in the all-around with a 36.675. Her sister Jordyn, who is a junior, was fifth in the all-around with a 36.075.

Glenbrook South's Nora Landi was fourth in the all-around with a 36.125.

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