Oswego Gymnast Takes First at Illinois State Gymnastics Meet

Malorie Carlson is a seventh grader at Thompson Junior High and member of Phenom Gymnastics.

Video: Watch IHSA Gymnastics Regional Live at Oswego High School

Event goes live at 1:00 p.m.

Watch the Illinois High School Athletics (IHSA) regional for girls gymnastics live at Oswego High School. Girls will compete in the following routines: vault, floor exercise, uneven parallel bars and balance beam for Gymnastics Regional. The tope five competiters in each category will automatically advance, as will the top five all-around and the winning team overall will also advance. Any girl who advances will compete in the IHSA State Finals held on Feb. 8 and 9 in Palatine. 

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Snapshot: Local Gymnast Heads to the Olympics

If you have a photo you'd like to see featured in our weekly Snapshot, write Steven Jack at steven.jack@patch.com.

We’re stepping a little bit out of our area this week for Snapshot, but these pictures (and the event they capture) are just so cool. Auroran Anna Li, one of three alternates on the 2012 U.S. Olympic gymnastics team, was given a rousing sendoff to the summer games in London at the Eola Community Center in Aurora July 9. The festivities included several hundred flag- and sign-waving fans, speeches, presentations and chants of "USA, USA." Li, 23, is a 2006 Waubonsie Valley High School graduate. She starred on UCLA's 2010 NCAA championship team and was a member of the 2011 U.S. world championship team. These pictures of her were captured by Al Benson. If you have a photo you’d like to see featured in Snapshot, write Editor Steven Jack at …

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Girls Gymnastics: It's a Big Stage Experience in Palatine

Waubonsie Valley/Metea Valley sent three gymnasts to Friday's IHSA state prelims, while Oswego co-op's Kyla Price also made the trip.

It was a whole new experience for Waubonsie Valley/Metea Valley co-op gymnasts Elizabeth Brandenburg, Jordyn Penny and Maddie Strick. The three gymnasts were in Palatine on Friday night for the preliminaries of the IHSA state finals. Strick's patience was certainly tested. She would compete on uneven bars late in the meet as she was gymnast No. 50 out of 61 who would give it a go on the bars. "It was a long day, and we had these little hand warmers that I kept juggling all night to keep my mind off of everything," she said. "They helped me stay positive." Strick barely missed advancing to Saturday's finals as only the Top 10 finishers in each event moved on to Day 2. She tied for 12th place with a 9.225. "Maddie was awesome," Waubonie …

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Girls Gymnastics: Penny's Going to Palatine

Waubonsie/Metea finishes its team season with a third-place effort in Wednesday's Hinsdale Central sectional, while freshman Jordyn Penny takes third in the all-around to earn a trip to the state finals on Feb. 18-19.

If you can't beat them, join them. The co-op teams of Waubonsie Valley/Metea Valley, Lincoln-Way and Sandburg/Stagg didn't have much of a chance of finishing ahead of the host Red Devils in Wednesday's Hinsdale Central sectional, but plenty of area gymnasts will be joining them in Palatine for the state finals on Feb. 18-19. Hinsdale Central finished comfortably in front of runner-up Lyons Township, 146.475 to 144.775 to punch its ticket to Palatine. Waubonsie Valley/Metea Valley edged Lincoln-Way 141.925 to 141.575 for third place, while Sandburg/Stagg was fifth with a 136.8. Oswego co-op took sixth with a 136.250. "We knew what we were going against with Hinsdale (Central) and Lyons so we just wanted to hit," Waubonsie Valley/Metea …

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Waubonsie/Metea Girls Claim Regional Gym Crown

Oswego also advances to the Hinsdale Central Sectional, placing second in Monday's regional gymnastics meet, while individuals from Hinsdale South, Plainfield North and Yorkville survive with strong performances.

First,  it was a venue change. Second, came a postponement due to last week's blizzard. Then, on Saturday, captain Laura Burns broke her ankle. All of this could've rattled freshman Jordyn Penny and her Waubonsie Valley/Metea Valley co-op gymnastics teammates, but it didn't faze the team one bit as Waubonsie/Metea won its own regional on Monday with a 141.825 point total. It was the first regional title in team history for Waubonsie/Metea, which originally was supposed to travel to Oswego for the regional before having the site changed to Neuqua Valley where it was postponed last Thursday. "The girls were really excited," Waubonsie Valley/Metea Valley coach Nicole Daly said. "They were a little bummed after the conference (meet) and that …

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Oswego Co-Op Gymnastics Team Sharp in Triangular

Getting set for a final push: Only one meet remains before conference and then the Oswego Regional on Feb. 3.

The Oswego co-op girls gymnastics team cruised past Glenbard South and host Batavia in a triangular on Wednesday night. Oswego scored a 135.425, easily ahead of runner-up Glenbard South’s 123.425. Batavia finished with a 119.55 and a trio of individuals for St. Edward’s competed and tallied a 103.875. Oswego didn’t reach the season-high 138.275 it achieved  on Jan. 8 at the Lincoln-Way Invite, but it was close. Furthermore, it was a nice rebound for a young team that struggled with a 132.3 last Saturday at Fremd’s Mari-Rae Sopper Invitational. “I think every team is going to have some of those down meets, and we’re working through the kinks,” Oswego coach Sarah Dugan said. “I think we kind of showed again that we are capable of that score…

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Oswego Co-Op Puts Forth Gym-Dandy Effort

Panthers' girls gymnastics team collects more than $400 for troops days after Christmas and then rings in New Year in fine fashion with a 138.275 team total at Lincoln-Way Invite.

Oswego co-op girls gymnastics coach Sarah Dugan has done plenty of good things during her years in the program. As a high school gymnast, she was the first Panther to advance to the finals at the IHSA state met. As an assistant coach, she worked with the legendary Lorrie Gregory, who racked up more than 225 wins in a career that spanned 20 years. And now as head coach Dugan is not only guiding the team toward success in competition, but also teaching them about the importance of helping others. When Oswego hosted the Oswego Gymnastics Invitational on Dec. 27, Dugan collaborated with Operation Support Our Troops–lllinois, Inc., by asking participating teams to bring donations, everything from peanut butter, crackers and beef jerky to lotion…

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