6 Golds: Lincoln-Way's Cargel Exits with a Gym Dandy Performance at IHSA State Meet

On Friday, Lincoln-Way co-op gymnastics standout Ajani Cargel fell just short of winning his second straight all-around championship at the IHSA boys state meet.

He made up for lost ground on Saturday in a stirring show of his all-around talent at Lincoln-Way East High School.

Cargel, the senior leader of the Lincoln-Way co-op team, capped his high school career in style by winning six gold medals—sweeping the six events in the individual portion of the two-day state meet on his home floor. He is the first gymnast in history to win all six individual events at the IHSA state meet.

He won the floor exercise (9.650), pommel horse (9.70), still rings (9.750), vault (9.70), parallel bars (9.70) and horizontal bars (9.550).

Lincoln-Way co-op's Victor Valencia placed third in floor exercise (9.450), tied for 12th in vault (9.150), placed 25th in parallel bars (8.50) and 33rd on the horizontal bars (7.250). Zack Beecher tied for eighth in the still rings (8.50).

Brent Schneider placed 26th on the horizontal bars (7.70) and 29th on parallel bars (8.350). Brent Arias finished 21st in vault (8.950) and 44th on the horizontal bars (5.90). Bryan Kowalkowski placed 51st in vault (8.30).