Mustang gymnasts topple Wildcats

After a loss at Stevenson on Wednesday, host Mundelein faced another tough challenge against Libertyville in Independent Conference boys gymnastics Thursday night.

The Mustangs were up to the task, as they posted a 123.8-119.85 victory over the Wildcats in their final dual meet before the conference meet next week.

The six-team Independent Conference meet will be held Wednesday at Glenbard South.

Mundelein (1-1) had scored 123.9 against the Patriots the previous night, and competing in back-to-back meets had very little impact.

"They have already had back-to-back meets this season so they are used to it and they are starting to get a little more consistent," said Mundelein coach Eric Liva, whose team scored 25 points on vault. "(Paolo) Apuli missed his parallel bars routine tonight, and he is capable of scoring 26 team points for us in his three events when he hits."

Libertyville senior Reed Stewart won the all-around with a 6.88 average, his first meet as an all-arounder. Mundelein did not use any all-around performers.

Stewart closed out the meet in style on high bar, hitting a double-back landing after a near fall on a release move earlier in his routine.

Stewart won floor exercise with a 9.1 and took first on vault with 9.0.

"This was the first meet that I did all-around which was quite an accomplishment for me because I was never really strong on pommel horse," Stewart said. "I actually learned the double-back (on high bar) about a week ago."

Mundelein senior Rick Fox won still rings with an 8.0 and took high bar with a 6.8.

Apuli took first place on parallel bars with a 7.4.

Libertyville's John Harder placed first on pommel horse with a 7.6, while Apuli added a second-place 9.0 on floor exercise.

"We're starting to add some tricks and we're gearing up for the conference meet," said Libertyville coach Curt Austin, whose team has scored in the 130's this season. "We're trying some new things to see if we can get our scores up."

Libertyville's Sean Hamlin added a second-place 8.95 on vault to edge Apuli with a third-place 8.9.

Libertyville's Greg Wilhelm placed third on floor exercise with a 7.8, while Stewart and Mundelein senior Nathan Kraus (7.0) tied for second place on still rings.

Mundelein's Nyles Lantin placed second on parallel bars (6.7), while teammate James Rosal was the runner-up on pommel horse (7.4).