Girls Gymnastics: HP’s Ablin solid at regional
By bill mclean Contributor February 7, 2012 8:14PM
Highland Park's Emily Ablin competes on beam at the Deerfield Regional. | Joel Lerner~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: March 11, 2012 8:13AM
A Garryowen, or an up-and-under kick, is a high, short punt in rugby.
Laura Koehler, a 12-year women’s rugby league player, knows that.
Koehler also coaches girls gymnastics at Highland Park High School, meaning she must be the only one in Illinois — if not the world — who could talk “truck and trailer” (accidental obstruction, in rugby) one minute and Tsuk (vaults, in gymnastics) the next.
Her rugby gear rested at home on Feb. 2, when she watched her Giants perform at the Deerfield Regional.
None of HP’s gymnasts qualified for this Thursday’s Niles North Sectional. But Giants sophomore Emily Ablin scored 8.025 or higher on four events, as HP placed fifth (110.875).
Her best mark was an 8.65 on floor, good for ninth place.
Ablin, a level-8 gymnast and first-year prep competitor, finished eighth in the all-around (33.4).
“A very skilled gymnast, with a lot of potential,” Koehler said. “Her routines are clean.”
A nice moment at the regional involved HP and super power Carmel Catholic, the eventual champion. As HP competed on beam, Carmel’s Corsairs watched and cheered.
“They’re all nice, hard-working girls,” said Ablin.
And a high-scoring bunch. Carmel, the two-time reigning state champion, hit 20-of-20 routines and amassed 153.225 points.
Runner-up Deerfield scored 134.275.
Nine other Giants competed at the regional: Ilyse Markrack, Emma Lev, Dylan Timmeney, Kaitlyn Hummel, Ellie Maites, Annie Fortnow, Kendall Robbins, Nancy Ceja and Caroline Wippman.
Driven: Ablin, in between gymnastics workouts, worked on her golf game last spring and summer. She made the Giants’ JV team.
The school’s varsity crew placed third at the Class AA state tournament last fall.
Ablin’s personal-best score, for 9 holes: 43.
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