Girls Gymnastics: Kurfirst, Morgan showdown looms

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Hinsdale Central's Erin Morgan performs on balance beam during the Hinsdale Central Red Devil Invitational. | Jerry Daliege~for Sun-Times Media

Updated: February 27, 2012 8:43AM

Glenbard West is a slight favorite heading into the West Suburban Conference Silver Division meet, but the individual all-around title is considered a toss-up.

Hinsdale Central junior Erin Morgan nipped Lyons Township freshman Kelsy Kurfirst in the all-around at the dual meet when the two met Dec. 14.

The rematch will be held in the conference meet at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Downers Grove North. Morgan, Kurfirst and even Glenbard West’s Mackenzie O’Keefe are expected to battle for the all-around title.

Morgan and Kurfirst will likely meet again at the Hinsdale Central Sectional Feb. 6. LT is the sectional’s top seed and competes in its own regional Feb. 3. The Red Devils earned the No. 2 sectional seed and host their own regional Feb. 1.

Glenbard West, which won the York Invitational Saturday, is the No. 2 seed at the Glenbard North Sectional and will host its own regional Feb. 1.

Morgan won the all-around (36.775) and floor exercise (9.575) at York while the Red Devils finished fourth (136.7). Morgan also placed second on vault (9.5), tied for third on uneven bars (9.025) and tied for seventh on balance beam (8.625).

“At the conference meet, I have higher goals. I make expectations higher for myself,” Morgan said. “I think it will come down to who can stick their routines and keep it clean.”

Morgan also won the all-around at a dual meet at Glenbard West Jan. 19 and took first at the Naperville North Invitational.

Kurfirst’s last major win was at Fremd’s Soper Invitational Jan. 14. She won the all-around with a career-high 38.10 and swept the other events with titles on floor (9.5), vault (9.65), uneven bars (9.55) and beam (9.4).

“Competing against her is fun because Erin and I used to be (club) teammates,” Kurfirst said. “She’s a great gymnast and tough competition with great routines.”

LT lost to the Hilltoppers by less than a point, but a team victory Saturday would give LT a share of the conference title with first-place Glenbard West.

“We are completely capable of beating them,” Kurfirst said of the Hilltoppers. “We have to have our team stay on our feet. If we have solid routines, we are capable of winning.”

On Jan. 7, Kurfirst placed fifth in the all-around at the Lake Forest Invitational, which featured state-title favorite Carmel. For her first high school season, Kurfirst learned a lot from watching the state’s best.

“Carmel has amazing gymnasts,” Kurfirst said. “They are definitely very talented. I knew going into it that it was tough competition. It was impressive watching their team.”

Kurfirst has won the all-around in at least four major meets this season.

“I am extremely happy with how the season has been going so far,” Kurfirst said. “I’m proud of myself and proud of my teammates. I think we can go far.”

LT’s Maren Craig (35.40) was fifth in the all-around and fifth on vault (9.3) at Fremd.

“I went into the meet pretty confident,” said Morgan of the York meet. “It has been a good season for me so far. I have a lot more responsibility on me this year since I am a captain. I think being a leader of this team has helped me because I more comfortable out there.”

Hinsdale Central coach Kim Etsoque has been even more impressed with Morgan this season.

“She works really hard,” Estoque said. “She has been competing very well and is a great leader for us.”

Andrew’s Jamie Valla was second with a 36.575, Glenbard West’s Mackenzie O’Keefe was third with a 36.00 and Lincoln-Way’s Kaitlyn Neilheisel and Glenbards West’s Nicole Pagor tied for fourth with a 35.475.

O’Keefe won the bars with a 9.275, Valla won the beam with a 9.20 and Waubonsie/Matea co-op’s Elizabeth Brandenburg won the vault with a 9.60.

O’Keefe and Pagor, along with Missy Guzman, who competed in the all-around for the fist time this year, helped lead Glenbard West to the team title with a 142.50. Lincoln-Way was second with a 137.225 and Waubonsie/Matea co-op was third with a 136.875.

“I thought we had three really good events,” Glenbard West coach Carlos Fuentes said. “Floor didn’t quite go as well as we wanted though.

“It has been a tough couple of weeks for us. We have had finals, been off of school for a few days and had some injuries. But the girls will bounce back.”

Dick Quagliano contributed
to this story.