MSL inaugural meet features fun

The Mid-Suburban League kicked off the 2008 boys gymnastics season Thursday night with the East/West invite hosted by Barrington -- and there was plenty of fun to go around.

With all 11 teams just starting their seasons and no ramifications attached to the display, the participating gymnasts were able to let loose.

There was plenty of cheering and laughing to go around, especially when a former standout Prospect gymnast made a special appearance.

After all the participants had tried to do circles around a pommel horse, Barrington assistant coach Dave Schieble entered the gym dressed in a silver dress and blonde wig. After bashfully saying his name was Amanda, Schieble proceeded to do 24 full circles accompanied by loud laughter.

Before leaving the gym, Schieble made sure to give Knights coach Pat Kivland a kiss on the cheek, leaving a red lipstick mark.

"I was kind of surprised," said Conant freshman Steven Rink, who won the contest with 49 revolutions. "I thought she was going to do better. I think it was the wig. He couldn't see."

Palatine senior Matt Eckardt was enjoying himself after breaking his own record in the standing back flip competition with 71, topping the 61 he completed last year.

"This is where we get to try tricks that coach might not necessarily put in for normal routines," Eckardt said. "We just get to have fun with all the other gymnasts. It's a very unique meet where most of the gymnasts have fun together instead of competing against each other."

Elk Grove junior Mike Jachura held an "L" shape on the parallel bars for 45.43 seconds, falling just two seconds short of the competition record.

Hoffman Estates senior James Lee held himself upright for 92 seconds to win the handstand contest.

Although the invite is an exhibition, it did hint at the potential dominance of the West, which beat the East 251.5 to 227.5 while winning five of the six normal apparatus contests.

"This is really laid back," said Prospect senior Chris Mattes. "It's nice to just be able to go out and have East versus West. I know that the West has more advanced gymnastics programs than the East, but it's nice that we can come back and actually win some events."