Freshman Emily Martinez’s first foray into high-school postseason gymnastics saw her compete in an event that she is not all that comfortable with.
And she won it.
The Lyons gymnast kickstarted her postseason career when she took first in the uneven parallel bars with an 8.7500 at the Lincoln-Way East Regional on Feb. 3.
“It was definitely nerve-wracking, but I tried to keep calm and I focused on my routines to make sure I hit them,” she said. “It was pretty cool because I don’t like the bars all that much and it’s not my best event, so it was fun to win.”
Martinez finished fifth in the vault with an 8.7500, tied for fifth in the floor exercise with a 8.700 and was second in the all-around with a 35.6500. The regional team champ and top five finishers in each event and all-around automatically qualified for sectional competition.
Lyons sophomore Jomarys Sanntos Morales and junior Katherine Trolley were in the top five in their events.
Riverside Brookfield junior Paige Phelan also advanced.
As Oswego, the District 230 coop won with a 143.1250. Sophomore Avery Allen won the bars (9.3500), the balance beam (9.1750) and all-around (36.075). Freshman Emily Pocica claimed the vault with a 9.200.
Seniors Kylie Wagner and Addison Piel, junior Paige Evans and freshman Reese Wasilewski also finished in the top five of their events and qualified for sectional.
The Lyons, R-B and District 230 athletes were scheduled to compete in the Oswego Sectional on Feb. 11.
Richards’ Garcia rolling along
Defending state girls bowling champion Ulyssa Garcia of Richards began her quest for a repeat by winning the Richards Regional on Feb. 6 at Arena Lanes.
She fired a 1,332 for six games to take the individual title.
Richards (5,306) won the regional title, Evergreen Park (5,122) was second and Stagg (4,999) was fourth.
At the Shepard Regional, the Astros won the team title with 4,687 followed by Andrew (4,651) and Sandburg (4,499). Shepard junior Madison Ciciora led her team with a 1,025.
All six area teams head to the Hinsdale South Sectional on Feb. 14 at Bowlero Wooodridge.
Morton won its own regional with 5,473 as junior Summerlynn Robinson won the title with an 1,177 and heads to the De La Salle Sectional Feb. 14 at Bowlero Lyons.
Marist, Shepard eighth in cheer
Defending champion Marist finished eighth in the IHSA state competitive cheerleading meet on Feb. 6-7 at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington.
Marist scored a 90.17 on the second day of competition.
Shepard placed eighth in the coed division with a 93.12.
Olympic goal for Murphy
Evergreen Park native and Mother McAuley graduate Abbey Murphy scored a goal and added an assist for the United States in a 5-0 win over Finland on Feb. 7 in the second round of pool play at the Winter Olympics in Milan Italy.
Football coming to SeatGeek
Chicago State is launching a Division I FCS football program in 2026 and will play its inaugural game against Division II Roosevelt on Aug. 29 at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview.