Hinsdale Central’s Morgan, Brenk prep for state

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Updated: March 17, 2012 10:10AM

Cayley Brenk will have a much better view of the state meet when it begins at 5 p.m. Friday at Palatine.

The Hinsdale Central gymnast was just a sophomore last season when Brenk appeared with the Red Devils team, which finished fifth in the standings.

The Red Devils didn’t make it back as a team after finishing second at the Hinsdale Central Sectional Feb. 6, but junior Erin Morgan and Brenk will be there. The duo are among seven West Suburban Silver individual gymnasts in the state meet, including LT’s Kelsy Kurfirst, Glenbard West’s Missy Guzman, MacKenzie O’Keefe and Maggie Phillips and York’s Meghan Davidson.

The individual event finals will be held at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

“It’s going to be weird; not competing with my team,” said Brenk, a Clarendon Hills resident. “I’ve never done that before. I’m happy that Erin will be with me.”

Brenk’s best opportunity to reach Saturday night’s finals is on the vault. She scored 9.45 at the sectional on her Yurchenko pike and she qualified for one other event on the uneven bars (8.8).

For both Morgan and Brenk, this weekend’s state meet is considered a stepping stone to greater success. They will both return to the Red Devils next season.

“She’s a junior and I’m a sophomore,” Brenk said. “This year at State, we’re making it a fun experience, especially for me. There is no pressure. We’re not there as a team, so we’re not expected to win.”

Brenk said Morgan and rest of her returning teammates have already agreed to work together on summer training.

Brenk missed at least three meets earlier this season due to an injury (bone bruise), but returned well enough to finish third on all-around at the sectional. She did not compete in the West Suburban Silver meet’s all-around, competing only on the bars as a precaution against any injury going into the sectional.

Morgan owns the better sectional score on vault (9.725). She tied with Kurfirst for third overall among state qualifiers entering the state meet. Morgan performs a handspring front.

Morgan is tied for 18th overall (37.125) on the all-around. She qualified for individual events on the uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise.

“Both girls have worked really hard,” Hinsdale Central coach Kim Estoque said. “It’s nice to have the two girls compared to one another.”