Casey Takacs, at only 19 years old, became the first Wilmette Park District gymnast ever to compete at the USA Gymnastics Eastern National Championships, finishing 19th all-around in Savannah with a score of 36.350.

The result, announced by the park district on Wednesday, June 24, caps a breakout season for Takacs, who earned her spot by finishing second all-around at the Level 9 Regional Championships in Columbus, Ohio. She competed in Savannah as part of the Region 5 Dream Team, a seven-member squad made up of the top gymnasts in the Junior 6 age group from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Kentucky. The team scored 148.125.

Takacs posted a 9.300 on vault (21st), 9.100 on uneven bars (15th), 9.125 on balance beam (13th), and 8.825 on floor exercise (26th).

Her coach of five years, MaryAnn Oehlerking, traveled with Takacs to Savannah and didn't hold back when describing the moment.

"Tears. Real tears. On my face. She's worked really hard," Oehlerking said.

Oehlerking said Takacs reached this level without older teammates to model the path, calling her "the trailblazer for everybody" in the program. That visibility matters inside the gym at the Community Recreation Center on Glenview Road. Gymnastics Manager Sara Emory said six- and seven-year-old gymnasts in the program treat Takacs like a celebrity, crowding around her when she walks in.

Takacs's path to Nationals started at the Illinois State Meet, where she scored 34.375 in the all-around, clearing the 32.00 minimum needed to advance to Regionals. In the park district's announcement, Takacs said her goal for next season is to compete at Level 10 and reach Nationals again in 2027.