After freshman Sam Upshaw dismounted the balance beam as the last competitor for her team, her St. Charles co-op teammates swarmed her with hugs, almost knocking her to the ground. Their excitement was contagious.

The team still had two rounds – the floor exercise and vault – before knowing if it would win the 2013 IHSA Sectional Gymnastics Championship.

But it seemed the girls’ confidence came together in that one giant hug, and they used that momentum to secure their spot as a team in the state tournament, winning the Glenbard West sectional.