VALPARAISO | The 2008 edition of Valparaiso gymnastics was considered the dream team, a veteran squad that broke the state finals record on their way to a the school's sixth title.

The current group of Vikings are one week away from matching them.

"It's been little more of a building process," coach Lorie Cook said after Valpo defended its regional title with 114.8 on Friday in Viking Gym. "We didn't go as big as early, but we've been over 113 the last seven meets. How do they compare? It's difficult. Both are an absolutely incredible team of kids, of athletes with incredible competitive spirits. This team's been a little more consistent. But I'd take last year's team any time. I'd take this year's team any time."

The top-ranked Vikings were in control from the start, posting a 28.675 on beam while No. 3 Chesterton, a distant second at 109.65, posted 28.05 on floor exercise, having to count a fall.

"I wouldn't say it was a sigh of relief, but there's a little, 'Whew, OK, let's go,'" Cook said. "Beam was awesome. Floor was awesome. Vault was fantastic. Bars, we'd like to do a little better."

All-around champion Kellie Kidd and Emily Holmen went 1-2 on beam. Kidd and freshman Steffanie Long, the all-around runner-up, did the same on vault, as did Long and Holmen on floor. Holmen shared second with Chesterton's Callie Kuehl.

"This is my favorite meet of the year," Holmen said. "We're in our home gym with our friends in the stands. We're comfortable in here. I'm really happy with how we did, but there's tons of room for improvement."

Tons?

"We want to come out and have the perfect meet," Holmen said. "We have really high expectations. We want to get 116."

The Trojans' struggles started with a Kelley Freeman fall on floor and ended with a Kuehl fall on beam. Freeman may have broken her toe on floor and had to scratch from beam.

"The great thing about this meet is we didn't have to be perfect. We get to move on," coach Kathy Wilburn said. "I was a little surprised by the falls. We need to pull together as a team next week and I believe we can. We don't tend to be resilient and pick up right away. We can't let mistakes get us down if we want to get on the (state) awards stand."

Kuehl fought off illness to place top three in three events and fifth all-around.

"How mentally tough can she be?" Wilburn said. "She's truly a team person."