Mick Jagger has nothing on Conant's Allison Buckley.
After winning every top medal possible last year, Buckley stillhas no satisfaction. So the senior gymnast looked at her routinesthis past summer and changed all of them.
"That is the type of competitor she is," said Conant coachMichelle Strachn, who has coached Buckley for three years. "She hasupped everything. She has a new floor routine, changed her bars,added a new leaf series on the beam and has a new vault."
It wasn't that Buckley was tired of her routines. It is just thatshe wanted to make them even stronger and get ready to compete incollege.
"I really want to throw more skills," said Buckley, who willattend Illinois next year and study kinesiology. "I just want tokeep getting better, not just for my team. Gymnastics is a teamsport and when the team does well, so do I."
Buckley struggled at the state meet her first two years, and sodid the Cougars. She tried to rein in her diabetes, at times takingshots of insulin at the state finals. With all of that, she didmanage a first-place finish on the bars her sophomore year.
Last year everything came together for her. First she won the all-around with a 38.975. Then she won all four individual titles andher team captured the state title, giving her a state-record sixgold medals at one meet.
"I really think it was her getting a handle on the diabetes thatmade the difference," Strachn said. "She knows more about it now.She was just as good her freshman and sophomore year. It was greatthat everyone could see how good she really is. That is the girl wesee all the time."
Buckley would like to reach the 39.0 mark at the state meet thisyear. Only two other gymnasts have reached that -- Fremd's MaryAnneKelley and Stevenson's Lindsay Borkan.
"It really would be excellent to reach that," said Buckely, whohas topped the 39.0 mark twice in her career, but only in regular-season meets that do not count toward state records.
"To be able to be a part of that would be something special. Ihad the year of my life last year. I have nothing to prove to anyonebut myself. That's what drives me."
TOP GIRLS GYMNASTICS TEAMS
1. Conant: The Cougars look stronger than last year with ahealthy Brittany Lindemann.
2. Fremd: With Mary Burke and Holly Reichard, the Vikings couldchallenge.
3. Palatine: The Ference sisters (Ginia and Elissa) along withJessie Watanabe and Rachel Corcoran could give Pirates a shot.
4. Warren: Lindsey Jindra and Kacie Holop lead the Blue Devils.
5. Stevenson: The Patriots could challenge with sophomores ShanaManning, Chelsie Seplowin and Stephanie Wojton.
6. Naperville Central: The Redhawks will look to build behind all-arounder Ashley O'Brien and Christine Tardi.
7. Carmel: MaryAnn Oehlerking and Nikole Viltz have the Corsairsthinking about state again.
8. Lincoln-Way Co-op: Joann Waclawek and Loren Costello could getthe Knights back to state.
9. Sandburg: The Eagles could fly high again behind KrystynMischeck and Gia Sangosti.
10. Neuqua Valley: Bailey Prosser and Alyssa Makropolous lead theWildcats.
Top 25 all-arounders
Allison Buckley, Conant, sr; Mary Burke, Fremd, jr.; HollyReichard, Fremd, sr.; Ginia Ference, Palatine, sr.; Kacie Holop,Warren, jr.; Brittany Lindemann, Conant, sr.; Krystyn Mischeck,Sandburg, so.; Nikole Viltz, Carmel, sr.; Dana Magyarics, Riverside-Brookfield, sr.; Ashley Felicelli, Geneva, sr.; Ashley O'Brien,Naperville Central, sr.; Rachel Corcoran, Palatine, jr.; SaraRomano, St. Viator, sr.; Shana Manning, Stevenson, so.; LindseyJindra, Warren, sr.; Joann Waclawek, Lincoln-Way, so.; BaileyProsser, Neuqua Valley, jr.; Jessie Watanabe, Palatine, sr.; MaryAnnOehlerking, Carmel, jr.; Elissa Ference, Palatine, sr.; ChelsieSeplowin, Stevenson, so.; Alyssa Makropolous, Neuqua Valley, so.;Stephanie Wojton, Stevenson, so.; Kelsey Persels, Barrington, jr.;Rebecca McLaughlin, Hinsdale South, sr.
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