Gymnastics: Vernon Hills’ Tran turns in super showing at NSC Meet
By bill mclean Contributor January 30, 2012 8:26PM
Vernon Hills' Alli Tran, seen here in earlier action this winter, took first in the all-around in Friday's NSC Meet. | Dan Luedert~Sun-Times Media
Updated: April 2, 2012 1:55AM
Shortly after Friday night’s NSC girls gymnastics meet at Ultimate Gymnastics in Gurnee, the following exchange took place:
“I voted for you,” Vernon Hills first-year coach Alison Gildemeister said to Libertyville coach John Taylor.
“I,” Taylor shot back, “voted for you.”
It is an election year, yes.
But they’re not running for office.
They had voted for each other for NSC coach of the year.
Gildemeister, a former Stevenson and Lake Forest assistant coach, won.
A vote for gymnast of the meet was not taken.
But if it had been, Vernon Hills junior Alli Tran would have earned that distinction.
In a landslide.
Tran topped the all-around field with a 37.375, a 9.3438 average.
Her victorious vault score was a 9.925, not at all average. She wowed Democrats and Republicans and independents with her highly constituent-pleasing layout Tsuk.
And nobody scored higher than the dandy Tran did on floor exercise (9.55). She notched her third-best mark of the meet on the uneven bars (9.45, second-place tie).
“Alli’s first three events tonight … man. Oh, man,” Gildemeister gushed. “She’s awesome.
“She has an amazing work ethic,” the coach added. “She knows what she wants at meets, and she goes after it. Great competitor, great head on her shoulders.”
The talented, and popular, Cougar munched on a chocolate-peppermint energy bar afterward, as gymnasts/friends from other schools took the time to hug and congratulate the multi-champ.
“I came in really focused,” said Tran, a co-captain. “Focused on hitting all my routines.”
Her lone blip at Ultimate: an 8.45 on beam, good for a tie for seventh place. But only one gymnast Friday night, Libertyville junior Jenna Dunsing (9.0), scored a 9 in the event, which was quite odd considering two of the state’s top teams, Stevenson and Lake Forest, also competed.
At last year’s NSC Meet, hosted by Vernon Hills, 12 gymnasts scored a 9.05 or higher in the event.
Vernon Hills co-captain Sarah Lopez, a state qualifier in diving last fall, placed 14th in the all-around (34.3) and tied for 10th on vault (9.45) Friday night. She also tied for 13th place on beam (8.1).
Youthful VH, shorthanded on Friday, finished sixth (124.825). Injuries, as well as a gymnast’s last-minute family commitment, meant Gildemeister had to scramble a bit as she made out her lineup.
“We’re a little thin tonight,” she said at mid-meet. “But we’re doing what we can do.”
Cougars Julia Gartsman and Katie Lea also competed as all-arounders.
“A lot of freshmen came out for gymnastics this year,” Tran said. “They’ve improved … a lot.”
Reigning champion Stevenson captured the title, outpointing runner-up Lake Forest 144.6-143.95. But the two schools shared the overall NSC championship because LF edged Stevenson in a dual in December.
Classy: Lopez was the Cougars’ NSC Sportsmanship Award honoree. She was recognized after Friday’s NSC Meet in Gurnee.
On the schedule: VH vies for sectional berths Feb. 2 at the Deerfield Regional. Other teams in the field, including the host school: two-time reigning state champ Carmel Catholic, Maine West and Highland Park.
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