Boys Gymnastics: Ethan Sansone, Wheaton Co-op cruise to sectional titles

Updated: May 3, 2012 5:16PM

Wheaton Co-op left no doubt that it would be traveling to Frankfort next weekend for the IHSA state boys gymnastics finals.

Hosting the first of the five sectionals in the state on Wednesday night at Wheaton Warrenville South, the Co-op won convincingly with 158 points. Runner-up Lake Park didn’t come close to contending for the sectional championship, despite scoring a season best 141.3.

“The guys came in and did what they had to do,” Wheaton Co-op coach Greg Gebhardt said. “It wasn’t their best night, but I thought they fought hard and gave their all in every routine.”

Ethan Sansone led the way for the winners, winning the floor exercise with a 9.65, which helped him secure the all-around title with a 53.8.

“It feels awesome,” Sansone said. “All the hard work is paying off right now.”

Sansone also placed second on high bar, as well as on pommel horse, where teammate Danny Heller was crowned champion with a 9.15 despite battling through a back injury.

“We needed the other guys to show our depth and I thought they did a great job,” Gebhardt said. “It was a qualifying meet and while you want to do your best you also want to save your best for last.”

Lake Park junior Mac Allen won parallel bars with a 9.15 and was third on still rings with an 8.7.

“I didn’t expect to win,” Allen said. “That was all because of a new routine.”

Naperville North senior Billy Suta struggled with a 7.3 on pommel horse, which likely cost him the all-around title. Still, Suta came away victorious on still rings with a 9 and high bar with a 9.35.

Glenbard North freshman T.J. Kennedy won vault with a 9.45.

© 2013 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit www.suntimesreprints.com. To order a reprint of this article, click here.