Lyons Township High School girls gymnast Emmy Bertucci gained a big believer following two personal-best scores Saturday.
That was herself.
“I was starting to think I wasn’t going to be our team all-arounder because some events weren’t as good as they used to be,” Bertucci said.
“Today just proved me wrong, which was really nice.”
The junior all-arounder was among many strong performances by the Lions at Hinsdale Central’s Kim Estoque Invitational. They scored a season-high 135.875 points to place fourth among 10 teams.
In her third varsity season, Bertucci achieved all-time bests in taking second on balance beam (9.3) and fifth in all-around (35.00). She also was excited about 8.9 on the uneven parallel bars, often her strongest event, to tie for seventh.
Before Saturday, Bertucci never scored a 9 on the beam. With that being the Lions’ first event, she rode the momentum.
“Once I got that score, I just felt so much better about everything,” Bertucci said. “I made my flip-flop, flip-flop connection (on beam), which is one of the harder things I have to do and I stuck my back tuck (dismount), which is 50-50 whether I land it.”
Lyons Township’s Dahila Highland competes on the balance beam during the Red Devil Estoque Invite Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023 in Hinsdale. | Steve Johnston 
Lyons Township’s Ava Hepokowski competes on the balance beam during the Red Devil Estoque Invite Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023 in Hinsdale. | Steve Johnston 
Lyons Township’s coach Brittany Milovanovic congratulates Emily Bertucci after her dismount from the balance beam during the Red Devil Estoque Invite on Dec. 9, 2023 in Hinsdale | Steve Johnston
On floor exercise, senior Elle Rockrohr was fifth (8.9) behind new tumbling passes and freshman Brynn Krantz tied for eighth (8.8) to also earn top-10 awards.
On vault, senior Gabi Sanchez was 12th (8.925) and junior Dahlia Highland 14th (8.825). Junior Ava Hepokoski tied for 13th on uneven bars (8.6).
“We added a lot of new skills,” LTHS coach Brittany Milovanovic said. “We had a lot of really good highs, and just overall all of our routines are improving and we still haven’t put in everything. We’re just gearing towards clean and confident routines this year.”
The Lions also are gearing toward their first individual state berths. Bertucci, Highland, Rockrohr and senior Emily Tucker, limited by a foot injury Saturday, were 2023 individual sectional qualifiers and helped the team qualify.
“My confidence just got so much higher after (Saturday),” Bertucci said.
The Lions nearly won their West Suburban Conference Silver Division opener Dec. 6 without Bertucci, but were edged 135.50 to 135.40 at Oak Park and River Forest.
At OPRF, Highland won vault (9.05) and beam (8.95) and Krantz won floor (8.7) and was second in all-around (34.15) and uneven bars (8.2). Hepokoski made her season debut on vault.
RBHS girls gymnastics
The Bulldogs continued their busy stretch by finishing fifth Saturday at the Homewood-Flossmoor Invitational (106.65).
Reese Phelan was sixth on uneven bars (7.65) and 10th in all-around (28.65).
The Bulldogs had won at H-F 114.60 to 110.10 in their dual Nov. 28. Paige Phelan won uneven bars (8.4) and was second in all-around (30.90).
In Upstate Eight Conference triangular action Dec. 4, the Bulldogs (111.70) were defeated by host Glenbard East (117.35) and Geneseo (112.35). Top scores came from Kayla Janusz (30.45 all-around) on three events, including vault (8.4). and Claudia Tello on beam (7.8).
On Nov. 30, the Bulldogs (112.90) finished behind host Hinsdale South (121.75) and Addison Trail (114.80). Janusz tied for third on vault (8.9) and Paige Phelan was third on uneven bars (7.4).