Cheerleading squads dot top 10 in state finals (2024)

Jeff VorvaTimes correspondent

In a rare season, area teams did not bring home any top-3 trophies in the state competitive cheerleading competition.

However, four of the top-10 finishers in the large-team division were from the Southland Your Times area.

Defending champion Lincoln-Way East led the way with a a 91.85 to finish fourth.

Lincoln-Way Central took sixth with an 89.60, Sandburg was seventh with an 89.20 and Andrew placed tenth with an 86.62.

Marist won the state title with a 96.32.

Girls bowling

Andrew and Lincoln-Way West headed to the Illinois High School Association state finals in girls bowling after finishing third in their respective sectionals Feb. 10.

For Andrew, it’s the ninth time the Thunderbolts have qualified for state, and they brought home their only trophy in 2011-2012 when they won the championship.

Last year, the T-Bolts came close to taking a trophy, finishing fourth in the state.

Andrew had a third-place finish in the Stagg sectional as the Thunderbolts fired a 5,630 with senior Jana Mihalovich leading the way with a 1,322. Senior Alexis Olson rolled an 1,139, junior Kaidence Bruno had an 1,103, junior Emilie Lewis notched an 870, Kinsey Schumaker had a 775 for five games and junior Gianna Koszut had a 179 for one game.

Richards won the sectional with a 5,884.

This is the fourth time Lincoln-Way West qualified for state; the Warriors finished thirteenth last year.

The Warriors qualified with a 5,052 good for third place in the Joliet West Sectional Feb. 10.

Senior Holly Kaiser led the way for West with a 1,041 for six games. The rest of the sectional scorers for the Warriors were sophom*ores: Allison Whalen with a 1,029; Erin Paul, 1,021; Michelle Schmitz, 971; Madison Tippet, 848 for five games; and Paige DeBella, 139 for one game.

Joliet West won the meet with a 6,091.

The IHSA State Girls Bowling Tournament was scheduled for Feb. 16-17 at the Cherry Bowl in Machesney Park after the Southland Your Times deadline.

Boys wrestling

Mokena’s Seth Mendoza’s quest for a third straight state championship continues.

The Mount Carmel junior qualified for state in the 126-pound weight class at the Class 3A Hinsdale Central Sectional Feb. 10.

Sandburg’s Rocco Hayes was a sectional champ at 106. Madden Parker was second at 120; Brady Ritter was fourth at 132; Ryan Hinger was third at 138 and Zac Ritter was fourth at 150 to also qualified for state at Hinsdale.

At Quincy, Andrew’s Max Siegel won the sectional championship at 126 and Nadeem Haleem was second at 113.

Lincoln-Way East qualifiers were Kaidge Richardson (third place at 126), Tyson Zvonar (fourth at 132) and Dominic Abeja (fourth at 150).

Lincoln-Way West qualifiers were Shane Stream (fourth at 113), Luke Siwinski (second at 138), Jase Salin (third at 150), Rory Moran (fourth at 165) and Nick Kavooras (fourth at 285).

In Class 2A, at Hinsdale South, Tommy Banas of Providence was the sectional champ at 126.

Joining him at state were Geno Papes (second at 157), Michael O’Connor (second at 175) and Mike Sisk (fourth at 285).

Tinley Park High's Sebastian Sanderson was second at 215 and qualified.

The state meet was scheduled for Feb. 15-17 at the State Farm Center in Champaign.

Girls wrestling

At the Geneseo Sectional, Lincoln-Way Central’s Gracie Guarino took first at 115.

Also qualifying for state was Lincoln-Way West’s Zoe Dempsey, who took third place at 105 pounds.

At Schaumburg High School, Andrew’s Sophia Figueroa (second place at 115 pounds), Alyssa Keane (second at 140), Janae Vargas (fourth at 170) and Emma Akpan (third at 190) qualified for state.

At Evanston Township High School, Simone Standifer of Tinley Park qualified with a fourth-place finish at 130.

The state meet is scheduled for Feb. 23-24 at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington.

Gymnastics

Five area gymnasts qualified for state.

Andrew-based District 230 co-op had three qualifiers as Reagann Chausse finished fifth in the all-around with a 36.425 to advance to the state meet, scheduled for Feb. 16-17 at Palatine High School.

She also advanced to the state meet on the balance beam (finishing third with a 9.325) and floor exercise (fifth with a 9.1500). Lyan Ibrahim tied for third in the vault with a 9.4000.

Aimee Crnich earned an at-large trip to state on the balance beam; Ibrahim earned an at-large bid on the floor exercise.

The Lincoln-Way co-op team added two area gymnasts to the state mix as Rylee Miller qualified at-large on the vault and Alaina Lekki qualified in the floor exercise.