Prairie Ridge co-op edges Carmel to take state gymnastics title

Downers Grove co-op finishes third, Palatine's Jolee Waddington sets school records

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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The competition for the IHSA girls state gymnastics championship was a close one, with Prairie Ridge co-op narrowly edging out Carmel 145.8 to 145.475 to capture the title. Downers Grove co-op finished third, while Palatine's Jolee Waddington set school records in the vault and uneven bars.

Why it matters

High school gymnastics is a popular sport in Illinois, with many talented teams and individuals competing for the state title each year. This year's close competition highlights the hard work and dedication of the athletes, as well as the continued strength of gymnastics programs across the state.

The details

Prairie Ridge co-op held a slim 0.175-point lead over Carmel heading into the final round and added 0.40 points to their score to Carmel's 0.25, securing the victory. Downers Grove co-op edged out Lake Park for third place, with Downers Grove junior Edith Condon taking the state balance beam title. Prairie Ridge was led by juniors Bryleigh Cooper, Nora Terhaar, and Tess Morton, who all had strong performances.

  • The competition took place on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at Palatine High School.
  • Prairie Ridge co-op won their sixth state title in program history.

The players

Prairie Ridge co-op

The gymnastics co-op team that captured the state championship.

Carmel

The runner-up team in the state gymnastics competition.

Downers Grove co-op

The third-place finisher in the state gymnastics meet.

Jolee Waddington

A gymnast from Palatine High School who set school records in the vault and uneven bars.

Edith Condon

A junior from Downers Grove co-op who won the state balance beam title.

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What they’re saying

“Those three juniors are great leaders for the team, they work hard day in and day out, and they lift the team up.”

— Alexis Redmond, Prairie Ridge coach (Daily Herald)

“We've been working so hard for this all year, I'm just so extremely proud of everyone and we just gave it our all so I couldn't ask for any more.”

— Nora Terhaar, Prairie Ridge junior (Daily Herald)

“So many girls came together to pull through and give us a chance for a trophy. I'm so proud of the way they put the pieces together to get the maximum amount out of each girl's talents, and our two juniors stepped up with their best performances yesterday.”

— Sarah Mikrut Doyle, Carmel coach (Daily Herald)

“Our goal all year was to get a trophy and we did just that so our seniors have four trophies. We were battling illness so we were just looking to do the best we could and they were able to perform at a really high level.”

— Kristyn Campos, Downers Grove coach (Daily Herald)

“I trained hard for this, and I'm happy to perform in my home town so that was my favorite part. It was really cool (to set the school records) because my Mom, my Aunt, and sister all went to school here.”

— Jolee Waddington (Daily Herald)

What’s next

The judges will review the scores and confirm the final results on Tuesday.

The takeaway

This year's state gymnastics competition showcased the incredible talent and dedication of high school athletes across Illinois, with several schools and individuals setting new records and achieving their goals. The close competition between Prairie Ridge, Carmel, and Downers Grove highlights the continued strength of gymnastics programs in the state.