By Jeff Vorva
Correspondent
For years, Marist’s competitive cheerleading team was knocking on the door of a state championship.
On Feb. 3, the RedHawks were like cops on television busting down the door.
Marist won the IHSA state championship in the large-team division at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington with a score of 96.32, ahead of runner-up Edwardsville’s 95.90.
The RedHawks took second place at state in 2013, 2018, 2019 and 2022, and third-place trophies in 2012 and 2020.
On the first day of competition, Marist was given a 93.52 score, which was good for third place behind Lockport and Edwardsville.
The RedHawks’ roster includes Jaclyn Fitzmaurice, Jenna McAdams, Katelin Carney, Kaliyah House, Emerson McGuire, Sarah Tadevich, Bianna Marciano, Carrington Anderson, Emma Summers, Anna Connor, Mya Marciano, Julia Lorenz, June Giblin-Segal, Breanna Doherty, Kelsey Weber, Abigail Osborne, Molly Ryan, Brianna Kirchner, Madelyn Gutrich, Autumn Veal, Bridget Panerese, Mia Vincent, Mia Dusynski and Kaelyn Howell.
Jordan Miller is the RedHawks coach. He is assisted by Tiara Patterson and Mary McKenna.
Sandburg finished seventh (89.20) in the large-team division. Shepard took sixth in the coed division (92.64).
No other area team made it to the second day of competition.
Evergreen Park finished 15th in the medium-team division, Richards took 18th in the large-team, Lyons was 16th in the coed and Reavis was 20th in coed.
On the mat
The area had three team champions and many individual regional champs in boys wrestling.
In Class 3A, Mount Carmel won the Marist Regional.
Mount Carmel champs were Justin Williamson (113), Sam Mendoza (126), Evan Stanley (132), Jairo Acuna (144), Edmund Enright (157), Kevin Kalchbrenner (165), Colin Kelly (175), Ryan Breen (190), William Jacobson (215) and Alex Poholik (285).
Sandburg’s Rocco Hayes (106), and Marist’s George Marinopoulos (120), Donavon Allen (138) and Will Denny (150) earned titles.
At the Downers Grove South Regional, Curie’s Porfino (132) and Damond Butler (157), Reavis’s Nicholas Gomez (144) and Morton’s David Roa (150) won championships.
At Glenbard West, Lyons’ Gunnar Garelli won at 165.
In Class 2A, Riverside-Brookfield won its own regional.
For R-B, Mateo Gonzalez (106), Nathan Standard (126), Jacobs Godoy (132), Ricky Gutierrez-Blanco (138), Josh Gonzalez (144), Ethan Rivas (157) earned titles.
Kennedy’s Victory Alverado (113), Gianni Alberto (120), Back of the Yards’ Axel Correa (175) and Derick Ibarrondo (190) and Goode’s Xavier Woods (150) were regional champs.
Brother Rice won the Evergreen Park Regional.
The Crusaders’ Oliver Davis (138), Frank Miceli (150), Pat Gilhooly (157), Colin Goggin (165), Dan Costello (175) and James Crane (190) were individual champs.
St. Rita’s Jack Hogan (106), Nino Protti (132) and Sean Larkin (144) joined Evergreen Park’s Johan Bonilla (113), Angel Ramirez (120), Chance Woods (126), Eduardo Antunez (215) and Gerald O’Hare (285) in the winner’s circle.
At Lemont, St. Laurence’s Henry Manning (120) and Xavier Bitner (215) and Richards’ Mike Taheny (165) were individual champs.
In Class 1A, De La Salle win its own regional.
De La Salle’s Jeremiah Lawrence (106), Darrel Oman (113), Mario Perez (132), Nicholas Arvetis (157), Josue Hernandez (175) and David McCarthy (285) were champs.
Gymnastics gems
Lyons won its own girls gymnastics regional with 138.975 points, edging out the Andrew-based District 230 team, which scored 136.8500.
Regional champs for Lyons were senior Emily Tucker on the uneven parallel bars with a 9.275 and junior Emily Bertucci on the balance beam with a 9.3500.
District 230 senior Layan Ibrahim won on the vault (9.2000), the floor (9.475) and all-around (35.375).
On the lanes
The Stagg girls bowling team dominated the Oak Lawn Regional at Palos Lanes with 5,795 pins. Senior Arianna Araujo shot a 1,468 for six games to win the individual title. That was the top regional score in the state.
The Chargers will host their own sectional on Feb. 10 at Palos Lanes.