Krueger, Wheaton deliver

Wheaton Co-op opened up its DuPage Valley Conference boys gymnastics season on Monday night and had little difficulty in more than doubling up a shorthanded Naperville North team 144.1 to 66.5.

Junior Tim Krueger won every event except for pommel horse in collecting top honors in the all-around with a 53.2.

"For us this was a good meet to see where we are," Krueger said. "We started well but had a few falls and misses that we can't have. We need to look and that, practice harder and find a way to do better."

While competing for only the second time this year, Wheaton's season will quickly heat up with a pair of invitationals scheduled at Hinsdale Central and Leyden on Friday and Saturday, respectively -- before the team hosts DVC rival Glenbard North on Monday.

"We need to do more routines in the gym to get to where we want to be," said Wheaton coach Chad Downie. "Tonight Tim wasn't as solid as I hoped. Neither of our team captains were, but Mike (Brackman) and Darren (Fill) also showed some things. We've still got some improvements to make this week."

Fill, who like Brackman is only a freshman, won the pommel horse with an 8.3. He agrees that such an accomplishment never would have happened a year ago.

"I hated horse with a passion my entire life," Brackman said. "This summer something happened; it suddenly became fun. I guess it was a combination of getting stronger, being able to do more tricks and having success."

Fill finished second in the all-around, vault and parallel bars.

Brackman finished second on the high bar with a 7.4, and senior co-captain Clark Kessery was second in floor with an 8.9.

"We've got great leaders in our captains (Krueger and Kessery) and they've really taken Darren and Mike under their wings," Downie said. "They're friends inside and outside of the gym and that makes a big difference. They're doing a nice job in leading the team."

The direction the Huskies have been heading has not been good so far this season. Injuries to their top two gymnasts have put a huge strain on the team and forced them to compete with an incomplete lineup.

Tyler Tylinski scored a 34.7 in the all-around for Naperville North, but he found himself all alone as the team's only competitor on floor exercise and vault.

Matt Straus and Matt Shelton each contributed in three events. The evening for Straus included a second-place finish on rings (6.2).

"The guys are doing what they can do," said Naperville North coach Brad Foerch. "With the injuries and our youth, we have a great deal of focus on our younger kids, and until April when we get healthier that's what we've got going."