Boys Gymnastics: Riley Maher looks to finish strong

Updated: April 10, 2012 6:36PM

Riley Maher has realized that he’s running out of time in terms of adding more thrills to his three-sport career.

Maher is a dying breed as a full-time high school athlete. The Hinsdale South senior from Darien already completed careers as a linebacker for the football team and as a diver during the winter.

On April 5, Maher scored a season-high on the vault with a 9.15 to finish fifth on the vault at Hinsdale Central’s Canino Invitational. On Monday, Maher scored an 8.7 on his handspring front tuck vault to place sixth at Hinsdale South’s Kordewick Invitational.

“I did some things right,” Maher said after the Hinsdale Central meet. “I stuck one vault. I am hoping to upgrade it with a handspring front pike.”

Hinsdale South (111.625) finished seventh out of nine teams at its own invitational and took eighth (114.35) out of 10 teams at the Canino Invitational, which featured all 10 teams from the West Suburban Conference.

The Kordewick Invitational did not feature the all-around. Gymnasts were limited to three events. Maher had mixed success by taking 12th on floor exercise (7.9) and tied for 19th on parallel bars (5.0).

At Hinsdale Central, Maher was 28th on floor (7.4) and 33rd on p-bars (6.0).

Hinsdale South’s top finisher at the Kordewick Invitational was Patrick Kenny, who placed fourth on floor (8.6). Keneen Freeman finished fifth on vault (8.75).

Maher has mixed emotions heading into the final two weeks of the regular season. The West Suburban Gold meet will be held April 28.

“It’s my senior year; my last year. I love doing this. I love these guys,” Maher said. “I will miss them, especially coach [Jarrod] Amolsch. I’ve been with him for four years. He’s been my gym teacher for three years and my football coach for two years.”

“He is like my second dad. He looks out for me,” Maher said.

Maher’s season was nearly derailed by a head injury last month. He attempted a maneuver on the high bar, but lost control March 15 in a dual meet at home against Downers Grove South. It was just the second meet of the year.

Maher has not competed on the all-around this season. Hinsdale South’s only all-arounder is Ryan Alsip, who finished 13th (36.60) out of 17 all-arounders at Hinsdale Central.

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