Lyons Township High School freshman Carli Proctor had the usual combination of nerves and enthusiasm going into her first high school girls gymnastics routine on floor exercise on Jan. 11.
Proctor not only scored a 9.2 but was among the Lions’ three 9s on the event that helped achieve a season-high 134.00 points in losing to Glenbard West’s 142.95 in LaGrange.
“I was really excited,” Proctor said. “I was proud of my full [twist], front tuck [second pass]. I was proud of myself and everyone.”
The Lions were eager to compete. This was only their third meet and first since Dec. 7 against Oak Park and River Forest. Their team score made huge strides from that 125.60 and 127.70 on Nov. 23 at the Hinsdale South Invitational.
Senior Annmarie Holmes (9.25), sophomore Emmy Bertucci (9.2) and Proctor had the top three floor scores against Glenbard West.
Before the dual, Proctor only had competed once, a beam routine at Hinsdale South. She missed the Nov. 26 freshman invite and OPRF dual. In her last club action, Proctor was a Level 7 USAG doing some Level 8 skills.
“That [floor set] was really exciting and that’s a great way to end the meet,” Holmes said. “Especially after one person got a 9, it brought the whole energy up.”
Bertucci also was fourth on uneven parallel bars (8.55). Bertucci (33.45) and junior Emily Tucker (33.40) were fifth and sixth in all-around.
The Lions nearly bested that score in their next two meets. They finished ninth (133.45) at Fremd’s Mari-Rae Sopper Invitational on Jan. 14 and scored 133.50 on Jan. 16 in losing to Hinsdale Central’s season-high 140.10.
The Lions’ top scores against Fremd were Tucker in all-around (33.90) and uneven bars (8.6), Holmes (8.8 on beam), junior Calli Avants (8.7 on vault) and Proctor (8.6 on floor).
“I felt really good [on beam]. It was solid,” Holmes said. “A lot of the improvements I’ve made in the gym I made in the routine.”
At Hinsdale Central, Bertucci solidly landed her double-back dismount off uneven bars to complete a first-place 9.0 performance.
Bertucci also tied for second on floor (8.7). Holmes tied for third on beam (8.4), Avants and Dahliah Highland shared fifth on vault (8.7) and Proctor tied for fifth on beam (8.2). Proctor (33.30) and Holmes (33.10) were fourth and fifth in all-around.
Sophomore standout Ava Hepokoski, who was injured during the Lions’ competition layoff, will need ACL knee surgery and is out for the season.
