Libertyville’s Dunsing makes it look easy at county meet

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Libertyville's Jenna Donsing competes on the floor exercise at the Lake County Meet at Lake Forest High School on Saturday. She took third on the balance beam. | Joel Lerner~Sun-Times Media

Updated: March 19, 2012 2:00AM

Some gymnasts labor to execute every trick on the balance beam. Then, there’s Libertyville junior Jenna Dunsing.

“Her beam routine is stacked with difficult tricks and she is making them look easy,” Wildcats coach John Taylor said.

Dunsing placed third (9.35) on the beam Saturday at the loaded Lake County Invitational at Lake Forest High School. Carmel’s Sarah Cohen-Smith (9.5) and Lauren Feely (9.45) were first and second, respectively.

This was the second Invitational this season where Dunsing placed in the top three on beam. Dunsing had been working on the routine she debuted Saturday since winter break.

“This was the first meet where she stayed on the beam and landed all of her new tricks,” Taylor said.

Thanks in large part to her strength on beam, Dunsing earned a three-way share of 15th place in the all-around competition (35.550). She tied with sophomore teammate Mariah Lee and Barrington’s Jessica Lee. Feely distanced herself from the field and finished in first (38.7).

Dunsing’s score would have been even better but she had a fall on floor.

“She’s a strong tumbler,” Taylor said.

Just Do It: Mariah Lee doesn’t spend a lot of time worrying about implementing new skills.

“She’s fearless,” Taylor said.

Lee’s attacking attitude was on display on bars. She tied for second with Vernon Hills’ Alli Tran (9.5). Feely finished first (9.6).

“It was a beautiful routine,” Taylor said. “It was the first time she put in her double back dismount and she stuck the landing. I couldn’t be happier with the way she is progressing.”

Taylor had to hold Lee back from using the routine until Saturday.

“She’s not afraid of trying new skills,” he said with a smile. “She’s never happy with what she has; she wants to make changes and that is characteristic of good gymnasts. She always wants to work toward something better.”

On vault, Lee (9.0) stuck her yurchenko back tuck for the first time.

“It’s one of those skills that can be frightening for people, but she goes for it every time,” Taylor said.

Up and Down: Libertyville struggled on floor to open the Lake County Invitational but rebounded to finish in fifth place with a point total of 139.8. The Wildcats almost caught Barrington High School (140.325) and finished ahead of Warren (138.7).

Carmel dominated the meet and easily took first place (151.050). Stevenson (146.20) edged Lake Forest High School (145.830) for second.

Senior Lindsay Schweitzer led Libertyville on floor (8.9) and finished in a tie for 19th.

On the schedule: The Wildcats have their last home meet of the season Friday against Carmel and Prairie Ridge High School.

Schweitzer and senior Tori Metcalf will be honored.

“The juniors take charge of the whole meet and get the seniors some gifts and decorate the gym,” Taylor said.

Taylor said the focus now is not learning new tricks; it’s about executing what’s already in the arsenal.

“The rest of the year is about being consistent in our routines,” he said. “We’ll try to perfect the skills we’ve been working on.”