Gymnastics: Mundelein takes third at NSC Meet

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Mundelein's Maya Nienaber, seen here during earlier action this winter, placed 11th in the all-around at Friday's NSC Meet. | Joel Lerner~Sun-Times Media

Updated: March 3, 2012 8:10AM

Mundelein girls gymnastics coach Nancy Toland made a deal with her Mustangs before Friday night’s NSC Meet at Ultimate Gymnastics in Gurnee:

No practice on Saturday, if the team’s gymnasts fall fewer than five times at the meet.

They fell only three times.

Mustangs freshman Mac Kehr had to climb three times on Friday — to receive top-five medals atop a podium.

“Our most consistent gymnast tonight,” said Toland. “I’m so happy for her. She’s hard-working, low-maintenance, very coachable.

“Good night,” she added. “Mac had a very good night tonight.”

Kehr placed fourth in the all-around (36.725), second on floor exercise (9.5) and fifth on the balance beam (8.65), as Toland’s crew finished third (141.1) behind Lake Forest (143.95) and reigning champion Stevenson (144.6).

Stevenson and LF shared the overall NSC championship because LF had defeated Stevenson in a dual in December.

“I was not expecting this,” Kehr, humble and shy, said after receiving her all-around medal.

“What helped me tonight,” she added, “was my team. My teammates were so supportive, so loud with their cheers.”

Mundelein senior captain Lisa Wajswol added a 10th-place showing in the all-around (37.75). She missed a top-five medal on vault by a scant 0.025; her 9.55 was good for sixth place.

Mustangs sophomore Maya Nienaber tied for 11th in the all-around (35.275).

Junior Katie Schall and freshman Nicole Ornoff also competed as all-arounders for Mundelein.

“We used this meet, in a way, as a practice,” said Toland, looking ahead to the start of the state series (regional, sectional, state) this week. “That’s what you want to do more than anything else — be as ready as possible for meets like that.

“We’ve had to put together different combos (lineups), because we were shorthanded at a couple of meets.”

Toland’s club amassed a season-high 145 points against Warren in a dual last month, after opening the season with a 141-point effort against Vernon Hills on Nov. 30.

Team points, dual meets, weekend invites, teammates, crowded stands — all new stuff for Kehr.

But she’s loving life as a prep gymnast.

“I’m having fun, a lot of fun,” the rookie said. “I really am. And I really enjoy being around my teammates.”

Huge difference: Libertyville junior Jenna Dunsing notched the only ‘9’ on beam at Friday’s meet, 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.

Stevenson’s Theresa Wojton topped the field with a 9.6.

Classy: Wajswol was the Mustangs’ NSC Sportsmanship Award honoree. She was recognized after Friday’s conference meet in Gurnee.

A-one Alison: Vernon Hills first-year coach Alison Gildemeister was named NSC Coach of the Year at Friday’s meet.

“I voted for you,” Libertyville coach John Taylor said to Gildemeister after the announcement.

“I voted for you,” Gildemeister said to Taylor.

Flashback: Mundelein placed fifth (130) at last year’s NSC Meet, held at Vernon Hills. Wajswol finished fifth in the all-around (37) and tied for third on beam (9.45).

On the schedule: Mundelein was scheduled to vie for sectional berths at the Lake Forest Regional on Jan. 31. Other schools in the field, in addition to LF: Glenbrook South and CSL North Meet runner-up Glenbrook North.