MacDonald, Wheaton Co-op Win Boys’ Gymnastics Titles

The Wheaton Co-op boys’ gymnastics team won their second straight Illinois state title over the weekend as Wheaton-Warrenville South junior David MacDonald walked away with a whopping five individual wins, including the all-around title. 

According to the Chicago Tribune, Macdonald placed first in floor exercise (9.75), parallel bars (9.75), and still rings (9.45), and tied for first in pommel horse (9.55) with Brian Thompson of Hinsdale Central and C.J. Patton of Fremd.

The combined 56.300 made him Wheaton’s second-ever state champ in all-around, after Kyle Padera in 2005, the Suburban Life reports.

“To me it’s just a lot of hard work has paid off for me and [winning all-around] was more of a side thing,” MacDonald told the Evanston Review. “I just wanted the team to come here to win, and my winning was a bonus. I feel really honored.”

The team did indeed win with 161.65 points, the Review reports, well outdistancing second-place Conant (155.7). According to the Suburban Life, the other major Wheaton contributors were junior Ethan Sansone (53.850, seventh all-around) and senior Danny Heller (50.050, 20^th all-around.)

"At the beginning of the year, the guys really thought we had the opportunity to do that," Wheaton coach Greg Gebhardt told the paper. "Danny really dedicated himself to getting stronger because he knew he'd be an important part… We knew we had Ethan coming back… and then with David, when you have an athlete at that level who wants to be a part of your team, that makes things easier. 

"We will have a very talented group [returning next year…] With David and Ethan coming back, next year will be really nice. The junior class is very strong."

The Wheaton team also got contributions from Connor Ritchie’s (8.95, vault) Max Jurkowski (8.85, parallel bars) and Mike Rumoro (7.55, still rings).