Focus and daring will be the keys to success for Deerfield High School junior gymnast Christine Stitcher today and Saturday in Palatine as she returns to the State Meet for the second year in a row.
Those traits helped Stitcher finish 16th with a 36.25 score in the all around competition a year ago. They will also be the ingredients she needs when she goes against the opposition in two individual events, uneven parallel bars and floor exercise.
“I’m a big meet performer,” Stitcher said displaying her focus. “I PR’d (scored a personal best) at Sectional and I’ll PR again at State. I plan to do better than last year.” Her all around performance at the Niles North Sectional was six tenths of a point better that she did at the 2011 State Finals.
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The experience of last year’s state meet will also be a positive for Stitcher today and tomorrow. “I know what to expect now. There’s no mystery there,” she said. “It’s cool to perform in front of all those people,” she added giving another reason her focus will propel her to more points.
The daring will come when Stitcher adds a back flip to the balance beam portion of the all around event. She and Coach Carol Myers decided to wait until the State Meet rather than introduce it earlier.
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A good execution of the back flip will add points to her score in a sport decided by tenths or even hundredths of a point but a miscue takes more off, according to Myers.
“We didn’t want to do it for Sectionals,” Myers said knowing less than perfect execution could keep her from reaching the State Meet. “She did it in practice and stuck it,” she added indicating Stitcher was ready.
Of the two individual events, Stitcher hopes to be one of the 10 finalists to compete Saturday and perhaps be one of five medalists to stand on the victory platform. Though floor is one of her best events, she sees her best chance on the bars.
“Floor is an easier event, it is a lot of tumbling,” Stitcher said explaining why a lot of the performers will record high scores. “Bars gives me (the best) chance (to make the finals). It’s a good event for me.”
This week Stitcher has been the lone Warrior preparing for the State Meet working on all four events of the all around. In addition to beam, floor and bars she will compete in the vault. Her teammates have been there to show support and Myers has been guiding her moves. “I’m trying to keep her focused,” Myers said.
Though the competition will be stiff to reach Saturday’s finals on floor and bars, Stitcher is not thinking about that. She is concentrating on executing her own moves.
“In gymnastics it’s 100 percent about how you do,” Stitcher said. “I won’t worry about the other people. I know they’re there.”
Myers is the one thinking about the competition. She knows how close the scores will be between those making the finals and those competing only tonight. “Things can happen that will help her make the finals,” she said.
