Publications & Sites 
Maine South’s Sir earns automatic sectional berth in all-around
Maine South's Haleigh Sir competes in the floor exercise at the Conant Regional gymnastics meet on Jan. 30. | Michelle LaVigne~Sun-Times Media
Updated: February 4, 2013 12:22PM
HOFFMAN ESTATES — Prairie Ridge entered Thursday night’s Conant Regional ranked as the state’s top girls gymnastics team, and standout performances from sophomores Rachael Underwood and Riley Mahoney allowed the Wolves to live up to that billing.
Underwood and Mahoney combined to win two events — Underwood won on floor (9.500), Mahoney on balance beam (9.425). Underwood, who scored over 9.025 on each of her events, finished with 37.600 points to win the all-around. Mahoney (37.225) took second.
The Prairie Ridge co-op — the co-op includes gymnasts from Cary-Grove, Crystal Lake Central, Crystal Lake South and Prairie Ridge — won the Conant Regional with 147.175 points. Conant (139.000) finished second, Maine South was third (135.250) and Maine East came in fourth (105.775).
Although the Wolves won by a healthy 8.175-point margin and are currently the state’s No. 1-ranked team by the State Gymnastics Stats website, they tried to not take a regional title for granted.
“We don’t want to assume anything,” Mahoney said. “We just try to go out and hit our routines. We had some flukes here or there. We didn’t have a very good meet, but we’re going to do better and hit the next two meets we have.”
With the team victory, Prairie Ridge advanced to Monday night’s Fremd Sectional.
St. Edward senior Abby Madden, the school’s lone representative at Thursday’s regional, and Maine South senior Haleigh Sir both earned automatic sectional berths in the all-around. Madden won on vault (9.700) en route to a third-place finish in the all-around with 36.975 points. Sir (36.050) tied for fourth in the all-around.
Sir was the Hawks’ lone gymnast to finish in the top-five in any events — she finished in a three-way tie for third on floor exercise (9.200) — something which was largely a result of having the state’s No. 1 team in the same regional.
“That’s what I was worried about, having the No. 1 team in our regionals,” Sir said. “It’s good practice for sectionals because all the good teams are going to be there. I kept telling myself ‘Do the best you can, work hard and it’s going to pay off.’ ”
Maine East freshman Mary Iliopolous was the Blue Demons’ top finisher in the all-around. She scored a 29.000 to finish ninth. Maine East senior Anne Kaczkowski (28.600) was 10th in the all-around.
All four sectionals’ at-large berths will be announced Friday.
Pick up your local Pioneer Press newspaper on Feb. 7 to read more about the Maine South girls gymnastics team.
