DGN Boys Gymnastics Team Eyes State Trophy

There’s a sense of urgency among members of the Downers Grove North’s boys gymnastics team. Particularly among the seniors.

And when you get right down to it, coach Al Bekkedal is feeling that sense of urgency, too.

The Trojans have advanced to the state meet each of the past four seasons. If they capture the team title at their own sectional, which begins at 7 p.m. Friday, they’ll punch their ticket to state for the fifth straight year.

Last spring, North grabbed fourth place overall, scoring 153.400 points. It marked the Trojans’ best finish at state since 1996, when they also placed fourth.

The Trojans are proud of their efforts last season and what they’ve accomplished prior to 2010—a fifth-place finish in 2009, seventh in 2008 and fifth in 2007.

What’s missing is a state trophy.

In order to bring some hardware back to North, the Trojans have to finish in third.

So that’s the goal: A top-three finish.

Everyone knows what’s at stake, says senior all-arounder Luke Schubert, one of the Trojans’ co-captains.

“That’s all we ever talk about,” he said. “That’s been our goal for five years. I wasn’t even here five years ago, but everyone is, ‘We’ve got to get a trophy.’ Especially because we’ve never had a trophy in the history of the program.”

If there’s ever been a North team capable of accomplishing this feat, it’s this one. Schubert and junior all-arounder Luke Wychocki have their names sprinkled throughout North’s all-time record book. Schubert is among the school’s top 10 in six events, while Wychocki is among the top 10 in five.   

“Luke Wychocki and Luke Schubert, those are two top all-arounders in the state,” Bekkedal said. “They’re doing a great job.

“Obviously making state is a goal. Our team has never won a trophy in the state meet. “This is probably going to be our best shot for a few years to get a trophy in state.

“This year we probably have the best opportunity to do that from any year I’ve coached.”

A former DGN gymnast himself, Bekkedal has coached the squad for 30 years. He competed collegiately at the University of Illinois-Chicago, and finished fourth at the Division II nationals one year in rings. He also was part of UIC’s two-time national champion gymnastics team (1978 and 1979).

Schubert wants a state trophy as much for his coach as he does for the team and himself. He knows all the hard work Bekkedal has put into the program over the years.

“We’ve got to get one for coach,” he said. “My mindset personally is to make sure our team goes to state. That’s what I want for my team, and personally I want to go to state in everything I do. I think we have a really good chance to get it (a trophy), though.”

The Trojans go into sectionals with a full head of steam. They cruised past the field at last week’s West Suburban Silver meet, piling up a season-high 155.55 points—well ahead of second-place Hinsdale Central (138.15).

North gymnasts secured WSS titles in four of six events. Wychocki was a double winner on horizontal bars and the pommel horse, while Schubert grabbed first on parallel bars. Schubert also was the all-around winner, with Wychocki taking second.

DGN dominated the floor exercise as Wychocki, Schubert and senior all-arounder Matt Rakow went 2-3-4.

Despite their convincing performance at conference, Bekkedal said the Trojans are capable of notching a higher team score.

“I don’t think we’ve hit our full potential yet,” he said. “There were a couple of routines that were a little bit shaky. We probably could have scored a couple of points higher team-wise. I think we’ll get better on parallel bars and I think we’ll get better on rings. And I think we can get better on high bar, too.”

Senior Lee Walter, a pommel horse, rings and parallel bars specialist, and Schubert’s younger brother, John—a sophomore who competes in the floor exercise, vault, pommel horse and high bar—add to the Trojans’ depth.

“Matt Rakow, he’s our No. 1 floor guy and our No. 1 vaulter,” Bekkedal said. “He’s been scoring very well for us on parallel bars also. Lee Walter is a real hard worker on pommel horse, rings and parallel bars. A guy with a lot of potential is John Schubert.”

All of the aforementioned gymnasts competed at state last year.

Bekkedal also praised freshman all-arounder Strah Sopcic, who captured a WSS championship in rings.

“Our freshman, he’s improved a ton,” Bekkedal said. “He’s one of the hardest workers in the gym and he keeps on getting better and better every day.”

 The Trojans will be facing Fenton, York, Willowbrook, Evanston, Leyden, Maine East Co-op, Niles North and Niles West at Friday’s sectional.