The balance beam is the bane of many a gymnast.

None of them apparently wear a maroon and gold leotard.

"They don't dread beam," Chesterton coach Lauren West said. "They're comfortable on beam and they take it into the meet. It's our best event, by far, our favorite event."

That was clear in the Trojans' performance at Saturday's Duneland Athletic Conference Championship, where the hosts fashioned a meet-best 28.025 on the beam, highlighting their third-place finish as a team.

"It's rare that you see such confidence on beam," West said. "(Former coach) Kathy (Wilburn) really trained the girls well. We don't do a lot of beam practice. We just work on knowing where your body is, where you're supposed to go. We just told them to be calm. They listened. They really responded."

Brandi Tuzinski was runner-up on beam (9.475), where Chesterton claimed three of the top five spots on the awards stand. Teammates Marisa Myers (third, 9.375) and Lindsay Campbell (fifth, 9.175), executing a new roundoff-layout dismount, also placed.

"It's really nice to see them at the end of the year still getting better, still making progress," West said.

Chesterton, the defending meet champion, posted a 108.65 team total, one of its top marks of the season. Valparaiso bested Portage, 112.55-111.325, for the title, with Morgan Algozine taking three events (beam, vault and bars) and the all-around (38.75).

"I'm just thrilled with the girls," West said. "They've surpassed my expectations for the year. Only having eight girls, I didn't know, but they're competitors. They keep fighting."

Tuzinski topped the Trojans all-around, placing third with a 37.175. She also pocketed a third on vault (9.425). Campbell added a sixth on bars (9.175) and all-around (36.375).

Chesterton will host the Sectional next Saturday at noon.

1. Valparaiso, 112.55; 2. Portage, 111.325; 3. Chesterton, 108.65; 4. LaPorte, 104.675; 5. Merrillville, 103.525; 6. Crown Point, 100.2; 7. Michigan City, 99.75; 8. Lake Central, 98.075.

VAULT -- 1. Morgan Algozine (V), 9.825; 2. Danielle Solis (P), 9.7; 3. Brandi Tuzinski ©, 9.425; 4. Madison Kurtz (P), 9.4; 5. Mackenzie Barcelli (P), 9.35; 6. Allyson Kraft (V), 9.25; 9. Lindsay Campbell ©, 9.175.

BARS -- 1. Morgan Algozine (V), 9.725; 2. Hannah Erwin (V), 9.5; 3. Allie Lazerwitz (V), 9.45; 4. Mackenzie Barcelli (P), 9.425; 5. Madison Kurtz (P), 9.4; 6. Lindsay Campbell ©, 9.175; 7. Brandi Tuzinski ©, 9.05.

BEAM -- 1. Morgan Algozine (V), 9.5; 2. Brandi Tuzinski ©, 9.475; 3. Marisa Myers ©, 9.375; 4. Abaigale Light (LP), 9.325; 5. Lindsay Campbell ©, 9.175; 6. (tie) Danielle Solis (P) and Hannah Erwin (V), 9.075.

FLOOR -- 1. Danielle Solis (P), 9.775; 2. Morgan Algozine (V), 9.7; 3. Mackenzie Barcelli (P), 9.5; 4. Abaigale Light (LP), 9.4; 5. Allyson Kraft (V), 9.35; 6. (tie) Kristina Goodman (M) and Madison Kurtz (P), 9.3; 8. Marisa Myers ©, 9.25; 9. Brandi Tuzinski ©, 9.225.

ALL-AROUND -- 1. Morgan Algozine (V), 38.75; 2. Danielle Solis (P), 37.55; 3. Brandi Tuzinski ©, 37.175; 4. Abaigale Light (LP), 36.975; 5. Mackenzie Barcelli (P), 36.725; 6. Lindsay Campbell ©, 36.375; 9. Marisa Myers ©, 35.05.