The girls gymnastics team placed sixth at the IHSA Girls State Gymnastics Finals on Feb. 16 at Palatine. Senior Izzy Gott competed individually on bars and vault, senior Yasmeen Taha competed individually on bars and junior Jamie Suffet competed individually on floor.

After not qualifying for the past 44 years, the team was one out of eight that went to the state tournament. The last time the Spartans qualified for state was in the 1979-80 season when the team finished seventh.

The team came up short of first place by 0.775 of a point in the sectional meet.

Despite a rough start at state, the team ended with a score of 142.2, head coach Julie Holmbeck said.

“Walking through [the state finals] was like an ‘aha’ moment for the girls and myself,” said Holmbeck. “It’s something they didn’t think they could achieve, but they proved themselves wrong.”

The team ended its season with a 5-1 conference record.

“Everyone should be proud, everyone had an amazing meet,” said Gott. “That was probably everyone’s best meet, it was truly amazing.”