Girls Gymnastics: Andrew’s Valla wins conference all-around

• Reprints

Updated: March 29, 2012 1:56AM

Thumb surgery early in season couldn’t unlatch the vise-like grip Andrew’s Jamie Valla has over the SouthWest Suburban Conference meet.

Valla took first in the all-around for the third consecutive year with a score of 37.725. The junior won all four events and wowed the crowd with spectacular finishes on balance beam (9.225) and vault (9.650). Her vault performance was the highest-given score of any event, which she earned performing a Yurchenko layout.

The meet was just her fourth full performance of the season after injuring her thumb on the beam before the season.

“Coming out here and hitting 4-for-4 really helps my confidence going into the Oswego Regional on Monday,” Valla said. “I was nervous beforehand. I’m really happy to come out and perform the way that I did. I wanted to stay tight on my stuff and avoid any injuries going into the state meets.”

Lincoln-Way co-op finished in first place with its highest team score of the season (138.475). Sandburg-Stagg (136.2) co-op was second, with Andrew (132.875) third and Homewood-Flossmoor (126.750) fourth.

Anna Grlich was third in the all-around (35.550) for Sandburg-Stagg, while her teammates, sisters Hanah (8.875) and Sarah Mussalem (8.800), were second and third, respectively, in vault.

Sandburg-Stagg’s Lexis Bailey was fourth in floor exercise (33.425). Ciara Adkins led H-F with a second-place finish on beam (9.075).