Girls Gymnastics: Oak Park freshman’s stock moving up

Updated: January 24, 2012 7:08PM

In the preseason, Isabel Beebe thought her chances were pretty good about making the varsity at Oak Park-River Forest.

Her tougher decision was made earlier before the season when the freshman decided to compete for the Huskies instead of her club team at the Oak Park Gymnastics Center.

“I’ve been doing gymnastics for 11 years. I have confidence in the sport, but I didn’t know what to expect between high school and club,” Beebe said. “There are a lot of wide differences between what you have to do (in high school) routines and you don’t have that in club.”

For example, Beebe said at least three skills are required during tumbling passes in high school floor exercise routines, but those requirements are not included in club competition.

With the regular season coming to a close this weekend, Beebe is starting to make a bigger impact for the Huskies.

She finished a team-best 10th place Saturday on the balance beam (8.125) at the Niles West Invitational. The meet format counted only two scores per school in each event. The Huskies placed 12th as a team.

OPRF will compete in the West Suburban Conference Silver Division meet at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Downers Grove North. The team title will be decided between Glenbard West, Lyons Township and Hinsdale Central.

The Huskies are the No. 11 seed in the Glenbard North Sectional Feb. 8 and will compete in the Wheaton Warrenville South Regional at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 3. The other top teams at the regional are third-seeded DeKalb-Sycamore Co-op and sixth-seeded WW South.

Beebe did not have a fall on her beam routine at Niles West. She is one of two freshmen on the varsity, along with Amy Hogan.

“Tenth place is very solid. It was not as well as another beam (routine of mine), but it was good,” Beebe said. “My fundamentals were good and it was great to get a score like that.”

Beebe has competed in the all-around in nearly every meet this season. She has learned from experienced veterans on the team such as seniors Morgan Wilkes and Annabelle Goldin-Mertdoga and juniors Emma Rosenbaum and Nicole Pohlman.

“I was nervous at first,” Beebe said. “I know I wanted to make the varsity, but I wasn’t sure.”

With at least two more meets left in the season, Beebe knows there is no reason to hold back anymore.

“I’m having a lot of fun. For me, I like to go out and do my thing,” Beebe said.

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