Boys Gymnastics: Tyler Leahy stands in way of sweep by sensational freshman

Updated: April 10, 2012 6:01PM

The only gymnast to prevent a sweep by Glenbard West freshman Alex Diab was Hinsdale Central’s Tyler Leahy.

Leahy did it with his most successful event. Diab, a 4-11 rising star, won 5 of 6 events April 5 at Hinsdale Central’s Canino Invitational, which featured all 10 teams from the West Suburban Conference. Diab set an all-around record of 57.15, breaking the previous record set by Lyons’ Jason Emke (57.096) from 2004.

The only event Diab couldn’t win was the vault, which was won by Leahy (9.5), the defending state champion in the event. Diab was second (9.45).

Leahy competed in his final Canino Invitational, the third of three major meets hosted by the Red Devils. Leahy missed the season-opening Red Devil Invitational March 2 to perform in the school’s spring musical and Leahy won the vault at the Krupicka Invitational March 16.

“I’m feeling way more confident than before,” Leahy said. “I’ve spent more time in the gym. I’m getting my strength back and putting in more skills in my routines.”

Unlike last season, Leahy attended gymnastics workouts while performing in the spring musical and that routine seems to have helped Leahy get off to a strong start this season.

“It definitely helped,” Leahy said.

There is still more work for Leahy to do. He is planning on adding a Stutz to hands for the parallel bars and a Full Higgins for the high bar.

Hinsdale Central will compete in the Wheaton Warrenville South Invitational at 2 p.m. Saturday. The Red Devils will participate in the West Suburban Conference Silver Division meet April 27 at Glenbard West.

The Red Devils finished third (135.55) at the Canino Invitational behind four-time meet champion Downers Grove North (148.45), which finished third in the state, and runner-up Glenbard West (147.65).

Leahy was third in all-around (50.90) behind Diab and Downers North’s Luke Wychocki (53.00). Leahy is Hinsdale Central’s only all-arounder.

He was fourth on floor exercise (9.2), fourth on still rings (8.4), fifth on parallel bars (8.5), fifth on high bar (7.4) and sixth on pommel horse (7.9).

“I’m taking it one practice at a time,” Leahy said. “I’m going to get the skills to improve on the all-around. It will be interesting to see how the team goes. We’re getting closer to breaking 140. Obviously, we’re getting better.”

Leahy wasn’t the only top scorer for the Red Devils on vault. Sam Pielet (9.25) took third behind Diab. Among other specialists, Laith Dasoqi finished fourth (8.1) on horse.

© 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.