Messina Shines Bright for Sandburg

Alexa Messina ultimately achieved her primary goal on Saturday.

The Sandburg senior, a three-time state qualifier in girls gymnastics, knew she would be limited at the eight-team Hinsdale Central Red Devil Invitational.

"It's hard for me to run," Messina said of the effects of a pulled right quad. "I just wanted to go in and hit my routines and not get hurt anymore."

Messina, unable to compete in the all-around—captured by Stevenson junior Alli Castriano—had to settle for a third-place result in the floor exercise and a sixth-place effort on the uneven parallel bars.

"I think floor is my strongest event," Messina said.

"(Messina) is one of our girls who knows how to hit when she needs to," Sandburg coach Kory Kronenberger said.

Messina scored a 9.550 on floor, missing out of the top spot by a half-point to Hinsdale Central senior Erin Usher.

Hinsdale Central captured the team title, turning back Stevenson 145.025-142.625. Lake Park was third, followed by Downers Grove South, Oak Park-River Forest, Downers Grove North and Hinsdale South.

Val Esposito was the lone Sandburg athlete to finish in the top 23 in the all-around.

Sam Shimkus' four-event morning and afternoon produced an eighth-place result in the all-around competition.
The Downers Grove South senior did not excel in any of her four events; consistency was her guiding principle in generating an eighth-place all-around result.

"Overall, it went pretty well," Shimkus said. "Hopefully, the next meet will be a little bit better."

Shimkus' day was highlighted by a 13th-place routine in the vault.

Downers Grove North was paced by its senior standout Bronte' Southworth, who was rounding into form after two admittedly sub-par efforts

"I'm very pleased with my performance," Southworth said. "I finally feel like my season has gotten started. My last two meets were not very good. It has made me much more dedicated to the sport."

Southworth also was ninth on the balance beam.

The Mustangs' best team performance came via the floor exercise; the vault came next as their collective 34.225 showing was .225 lower than the floor.

Elise Wendt and Alexxa Rassano finished back-to-back at Nos. 12 and 13 in the individual all-around.
Brittany Rohl had the Mustangs' finest event finish; the senior earned the only placement with her 10th in the vault.

Hinsdale South failed to place any athletes; freshman Jess Hawken was its most complete competitor.

"I'm pretty pleased," Hawken said. "I just wish I could have stuck my landings a little bit better."