Time running out on Kits senior gymnasts

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Evanston's Emily Varua on the Parallel Bars at the Brinkworth/Munch Gymnastics Invitational at Evanston Township on January 6, 2012. | Joel Lerner~Sun-Times Media

Updated: February 20, 2012 9:10AM

While many high school athletes are battling colds and flu this season, another ailment is dogging the Evanston girls gymnastics team – senioritis.

So says Wildkits coach Chester Jones, who believes some of his 12th-graders may be losing their gymnastics focus.

Senior athletes often come through with some their best performances late in their careers as they look to go out on a high note. Jones is still hoping that sense of urgency will creep into the Wildkits gymnastics room, but admits he’s not seeing it yet.

“It’s been a good season,” he said. “But I’m a little disappointed in some seniors. I think they have senioritis. They are stepping forward, but they are not jumping forward, if you catch my drift. They are not going to do gymnastics in college and this is their last year. I’ve dealt with it before, but for some reason because the team is doing well, I expect more (this season). It seems like this year we could have made a mark that we haven’t made in seven or eight years.”

Jones certainly is not writing off the season yet. The Wildkits turned in a solid performance at Saturday’s Viking Invite at Niles North. Despite being shorthanded, Evanston (93.30) finished third at the 12-team meet in which teams entered three competitors on each rotation.

However, Jones felt his team was capable of more.

“We placed third, but it wasn’t out of our grasp that we could have taken second. It would have been nice,” he said.

Evanston freshman Emily Varua finished fifth on floor (8.825) and beam (8.6), but did not work vault in order to rest a nagging ankle injury.

“We’re still playing it safe until I hear a little more,” Jones said. “Her ankle is physically sore. I understand that before I got her she had ankle problems. She’s supposed to be having it looked at in the offseason, though maybe it will be done before the postseason.”

Each team at the Viking Invite was allowed one all-arounder. Senior Lauren Nortz (31.575) filled that role for the Wildkits. Among the highlights for Nortz were 10th place finishes on both bars (8.0) and vault (8.45).

Evanston freshman Lucy Bowser came in 14th on vault (8.25), just ahead of junior teammate Rachel Karn (8.2).

“Lucy, our other little freshman, had a good showing,” Jones said. “She fills in where we need her. She’s always ready to go when I say, ‘Somebody can’t go and I need you.’ She’s our Johnny on the spot.”

Senior Diana Cisneros, who competed on floor on Saturday, is one gymnast Jones said he hopes to incorporate into more events in the final weeks of the season. The coach said Cisneros is still trying to get back on her game after breaking her arm during the second meet of her junior year.

The Wildkits visit Maine South at 5:30 p.m. Thursday and will compete at the Niles West Invite at 1 p.m. Saturday.