The balance beam evokes fear in many gymnasts, but Reagann Chausse finds it fascinating.
Always eager to show off her skills, the Sandburg junior relishes her time on the four-inch-wide apparatus — even when the dial gets turned up and the heat is on.
“I kind of like the pressure of it,” Chausse said. “It’s also really exciting when you do hit a skill because everyone is cheering. It’s just very cool to be up there.”
Chausse said the key to excelling on the beam is staying calm and believing in yourself.
How exactly does she do that?
“I do three of each skill and the third one has to be perfect,” Chausse said of warmups. “And then I can go perform.”
That’s an insight known not even by Chausse’s coaches with the District 230 co-op team, which comprises gymnasts from Sandburg, Andrew and Stagg.
“That’s a secret to us because she’s never told us that,” District 230 coach Allison Hack said. “I don’t know — whatever works for her. It obviously has worked for her this season.”
Indeed it has, and in a big way.
Chausse captured third place on the balance beam in Saturday’s state finals at Palatine, sticking her routine for a 9.45. That was a significant improvement from her score during Friday’s prelims, when she tallied a 9.225 to tie for fourth.
Downers Grove co-op junior Genevieve Herion ended up winning the event with 9.525.
“They have a floor back (of the gym), so I was just practicing a bunch,” Chausse said. “Making it consistent really helps you staying calm up there and that really helps you perform better.”
Chausse is the first District 230 girl to win a state medal since the co-op program was formed in 2019. The last Sandburg girl to get a medal was Krystyn Misheck, who won four including the floor exercise state title in 2009.
“It was amazing,” Hack said. “We were teared up, her teammates were crying, so she’s worked really hard this season.
“This is something I know she’s extremely proud of, and we’re very proud of her as well.”
Chausse’s third-place showing equals the best effort by a Sandburg girl on the beam. Misheck also took third in 2006 and Amy Ramsey matched that in 1995.
The historic performance came in Chausse’s debut at the state meet.
“Day one, it was a lot louder in here than I’m used to,” Chausse said. “But I think it was super cool to be able to show off all the work I’ve been putting in recently for everyone. It was exciting.”
One thing Chausse showed off was a relatively uncommon series in which she does a front tuck into a flip-flop and back handspring. She begins by moving forward, then immediately changes direction.
“I think she was the only one competing it (Saturday),” Hack said. “I believe there might have been a few who did it yesterday, but it is a unique series. It’s not as common as some of the other ones.”
What led Chausse to include it in her routine?
“I just one day tried it and I was pretty good at it, so I just thought I would stick with it,” Chausse said. “I kept practicing it, and it worked.”
Chausse, who began gymnastics at age 3, tied for 25th in the all-around with a 35.05 and took 32nd on floor with a 8.525.
She did that while competing against more advanced gymnasts. Chausse competes at Level 7 in club, while several of the top girls at state have reached Level 10.
“Making it here again would be very cool,” Chausse said. “It’s something I want to do next year.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
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