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Lyons’ Kurfirst lands bars dismount to win Hinsdale Central Sectional
Updated: February 11, 2013 3:19PM
HINSDALE — Kelsy Kurfirst’s big gamble paid off with another sectional championship for the Lyons sophomore.
Kurfirst won three of four individual events, took first in the all-around and led Lyons to another berth in the state meet with a big boost from a new trick on the uneven bars. Kurfirst hit her double twisting, half-in, half-out dismount on the bars, her final event of the evening Wednesday in the Hinsdale Central Sectional.
Kurfirst’s winning 9.7 also clinched first place in the all-around (38.35). Lyons, which finished sixth in last year’s state meet, advanced to state again with a 149.25 total, falling just short of its season-best 149.775 at the Lyons Regional.
With a help from her club coach Jody Raymond, Kurfirst changed her dismount on the bars. The half-in, half-out was the dismount she had used to win last year’s state championship in the event.
Kurfirst used that trick this season only one previous time, at the West Suburban Silver meet Jan. 26. She suffered a fall and for the only meet did not win all-around.
“I used that (fall) as motivation,” Kurfirst said. “It’s so satisfying to be able to use it in a meet.”
There was a little hesitation by Kurfirst and Lyons coach Kari Karubas-Powell on whether to use the complex dismount. Raymond, who coaches Kurfirst with Action club, came out to a Lyons practice last week to work on the dismount with Kurfirst and Karubas-Powell.
“I woke up this morning and I was nervous (about) if tonight was the night to throw the dismount,” Karubas-Powell said. “We’ve worked too hard. I thought, ‘We’ll do it.’ She didn’t throw that dismount until the state meet last year.”
Lyons won its sixth sectional title in the last seven years. The second-place Devils (140.90) were led by all-around runner-up Erin Morgan (37.625). Morgan and Kurfirst tied for the title on vault (9.725). Morgan (9.425) beat Kurfirst (9.40) on beam. Kurfirst also won floor exercise (9.525).
