By Bobby Narang-
The Glenbard West High School girls gymnastics team made history Saturday.
The Hilltoppers captured the program’s first State gymnastics championship by edging three-time State champion Prairie Ridge. Glenbard West scored 149.5500 points to 148.7500 for Prairie Ridge.
The State meet was held Friday and Saturday at Palatine High School. Wheaton Warrenville South High School took eighth place with a score of 143.5250. Glenbard West advanced from its five-team regional meet.
“It was a special day for our team,” Glenbard West head coach Carlos Fuentes said. “We had so many great achievements and all the girls did really well.”
Glenbard West junior Maddie Diab had a day to remember. On her 17th birthday, Diab won the State championship in the floor exercise with a 9.725 Saturday. She placed second in both vault with 9.625 and the uneven parallel bars with 9.55. Friday, Diab won the all-around for the second time in her career.
“I knew I had to do well and hit my routines, but I was mostly focusing on what I needed to do for the team,” Diab said.
Her sister, Anna Diab, placed fourth in bars, 9.5, and floor, 9.55, and Taylor Ramirez of Glenbard West finished third on floor, 9.575, and fifth on the balance beam, 9.275.
Wheaton Warrenville South sophomore Jamie Labue won the balance beam event with a 9.5250 and Neuqua Valley freshman Jane Riehs placed second in the balance beam with a score of 9.475. Labue took fourth place in the vault.
