In the groove

There's little doubt that this year's Lake Park boys gymnastics team will contend for a state title.

The Lancers proved that earlier this month when they beat defending state champion Palatine in the Leyden Eagle Invite, and they restated their claim during Thursday night's 11-team Ralph W. Krupke Invitational, in which they defeated runner-up Wheaton co-op 154.350-152.050.

Lake Park set a school record on vault with a 27.3 and nearly established a new record on pommel horse.sch

"We really had career efforts on pommel horse; we were two-tenths shy of breaking the team high," Lake Park coach Keith Matune said. "They really did a great job. I'm ecstatic with them."

Freshman Jesus Soto won on pommel horse with a 9.5, Andrew Aguayo finished second and Adam Fogarty was fourth.

Soto, the lone all-arounder for the Lancers, finished second to Wheaton co-op senior Tim Krueger in the all-around.

The Lancers dominated on still rings. Stevenson's Bryan Pasateri won the event with a 9.15, but Lake Park's Mike Hannigan was second, Gary Soper fourth and Soto fifth.

"I thought we did pretty solid with two upper 8s and a 9.1," Hannigan said. "I think that puts us as one of the best rings teams in the state of Illinois. I'm very proud that we were able to do that."

It was the first time the Lancers won the Krupke Invitational since 1998 and only the third time they've won it in its 37-year existence. Now, with two big invite wins already, the Lancers know they are among the elite teams in the state.

"We always knew we were good, but honestly, coach always believed in us more," said senior Nathan Bracher, who was sixth on vault and eighth in floor. "We started freshman year and have made a jump every year and are only going to get better."

The Lancers truly believe they'll get better too.

"We were looking at 110 points after four events and if you go with our average of 25 and 25, that's 160 right there," Matune said. "So while we are happy and pleased with a 154 we really thought we could've been in the 159-160 range."

Wheaton co-op has to wonder what it needs to do to win this week. After tying Glenbard North on Monday night, the team saw a new season high get overshadowed by Lake Park's victory. Still, the team saw Krueger win on floor, parallel bars and vault and Clark Kessery and Darren Fill finish sixth and seventh, respectively, in the all-around.

Downers Grove North, competing without standout Doug Rybar, finished in third place with a 141.605.

Conant finished in fourth place with a 139.1 with Jon Snyder leading the team with a third-place finish in all-around and top honors on high bar with a 9.2.