The Stevenson boys gymnastics team won its first state championship Friday at Schaumburg, giving the state record book a new look.
The Patriots smashed the modern state-meet scoring record under the current format, which has been in place since 1997, by earning a 167.1. Mundelein set the old mark, at 164.85 in 1999, in the middle of its three-season state-title run.
“Our kids really wanted to win the meet and beat the record,” said coach Dexter Victoria, whose Patriots took third place in 1999 and 2001.
Addison Trail tallied 162.4 to finish second, winning a trophy (top-three finish) for the 13th time under coach Fred Dennis. Lyons Township took third with at 159.25.
Stevenson joined select company in boys and girls gymnastics history because the girls team repeated as state champs in February. Previously, only Addison Trail had won boys and girls gymnastics titles in the same year, taking both in 1978, ’80 and ’81.
“Winning like the girls did is icing on the cake,” said senior Michael McGrady, whose sister Michelle was on the girls team. “But the most important thing was hitting our routines and having fun.”
“I’ve been in third place, and that’s fun, but this is just incredible,” said McGrady, who contributed 56.6 points to the Stevenson score.
Stevenson, which scored 167.8 in winning its own sectional last Saturday, led after every rotation. The Patriots won because of eye-popping scores on still rings, with a 28.6 total out of 30, and on high bar, with a 28.2.
“They are fantastically talented and very deep,” Mundelein coach Doug Foerch said of Stevenson.
Stevenson earned the best team score in five of the six events, trailing Addison Trail on floor exercise, where the Blazers outscored the Patriots 27.65-27.5. The Blazers celebrated their accomplishment by soaking Dennis, who has coached seven championship teams in his 29-year tenure, under a shower in the locker room. Dennis has also led the Addison Trail girls team to five titles.
“We’re really happy with second,” said junior Jeff Grunschel, who contributed 55.1 points for Addison Trail. “I was really impressed with everyone on the team.”
Lyons, in making its first state finals appearance since 1976, had to overcome challenges from the Lincoln-Way and Wheaton co-op teams.
“All we wanted was a trophy, and we got it,” said Lyons senior Jason Enke, who contributed 55.2 points to his team’s score.
The state meet will continue Saturday with the preliminary session at noon, when the all-around winner will be determined. Individual finals for the six events will begin at 7 p.m.
