Boys Gymnastics: Freshman phenom Alex Diab falls, but still claims all-around

Updated: May 5, 2012 9:56PM

Alex Diab is human after all.

The freshman phenom who achieved a 10 on high bar on April 27, had to count a fall on the event during Saturday’s Glenbard West sectional.

The minor mishap did little to slow the 4-11 standout as he won the all-around with a 57.450 to lead the Hilltoppers to the sectional title with 154.6 points and their first state birth since 2008.

“This was huge,” Diab said. “Our team has been working real hard this year to make it to state and now we made it. We just need to clean up a few things to get top three or maybe first place as a team.”

Diab’s all-around total was the best registered during the five sectionals. Lincoln-Way Co-op senior Ajani Cargle had the second highest score with a 56.35 on Thursday.

Diab swept all six events. Despite the fall on high bar, he still had a 9.2. He tallied a 9.45 on pommel horse, 9.5 on vault, 9.65 on still rings, 9.75 on parallel bars and a 9.9 on floor.

“It means a lot to win,” Diab said. “I left like I had a good meet today. It wasn’t my best, but I had a good performance.”

While Diab once again stole the show, the Hilltoppers still picked up 97.15 additional points thanks to several team contributions. P.J. McCloskey had an 8.9 on floor and 8.95 on parallel bars and Perry Zumbrook contributed a 9.15 on vault and 8.55 parallel bars. In addition, Charlie Kummerer had an 8 on still rings, Michael Bonokillie scored a 7.8 on pommel horse and Cory Wilfong earned a 7 on high bar.

A heartbroken Conant team placed second with 147.3 points. The Cougars were vying for one of the three at-large team qualifiers, but were unable to reach the 147.6 scored by Glenbrook North during Friday’s Downers Grove North sectional.

“We obviously had a good meet with a season-high so the guys did an awesome job,” Conant coach Paul Kim. “We could’ve had any one of the guys give me three-tenths if they made one trick here or there, but it is what it is.”

© 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.