Girls Gymnastics: Nieder, Sir to represent Maine South at Niles North sectional
BY MATT HARNESS Contributor February 7, 2012 11:50AM
LINCOLNSHIRE 2/1/12 Maine South's Nicole Nieder competes on the balance beam. Michelle LaVigne/Sun-Times Media
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Updated: March 11, 2012 8:09AM
Haleigh Sir expects a lot from herself.
That’s why the Maine South junior sounded slightly disappointed in her performance at last week’s Stevenson Regional, even though she advanced automatically to the Niles North Sectional in three events, including all-around.
Sir’s highest finish was on floor exercise, where she took second with a 9.475. She took third in the all-around at 36.475 and fifth on the balance beam at 9.3.
“Overall, I was happy with how I did,” said Sir, who competed at the state meet on the floor last season. “The all-around is what I am most proud of this year.
“Last year, I was inconsistent with all events, although the floor stood out. I am happy I got the other events up to where floor was.”
Sir learned Monday she also advanced in both the vault and the uneven bars as an at-large qualifier. She scored a 9.05 on vault and an 8.65 on bars.
“That was a goal, to make everything,” said Sir, who competes in the offseason at Glenview’s Dreams Gymnastics. “Now, I hope to qualify for the state meet in at least one event, maybe more.”
Sir will be one of two Hawks at today’s (Thursday’s) Niles North Sectional. Nicole Nieder earned an at-large berth on floor exercise after she scored 8.75.
Sir put her mind to working hard on her beam skills in the offseason, and it showed when she won the CSL South championship in the event.
“I wanted to be more solid on it,” she said. “It was rough at the beginning of the season, but I am more consistent now and staying on it more.”
Maine South posted its third-highest score of the season at 133.925, but did not qualify for sectional as a team.
The Niles North Sectional will feature two of the top teams in the state in Carmel and Stevenson. The Corsairs’ 153.225 was the best score at regionals, while the Patriots’ 149.125 came in second.
Maine East
The Demons posted a 92.700 at the Stevenson Regional, despite missing several gymnasts and only using four all-arounders.
Tori Walley was the lone senior who competed for Maine East in the postseason. Sophomore Alyssa Benjamin and freshmen Aorinia Abram and Andrea Lela were the team’s other competitors.
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