For Geneva senior Reese Lackey, the last routine of her gymnastics career was also her best. Lackey, who first began tumbling when she was 2, went out a winner Saturday afternoon. “It’s incredible,” Lackey said. “It’s something I’ve definitely been working toward my entire high school ca reer. It’s something good to end on.” Coming through when it mattered most, Lackey scored a career-high 9.6 to capture the championship on floor exercise in the state finals at Palatine. Lackey is an accomplished all-around gymnast, but there’s something about competing on floor that brings out the best in her. “I really love floor,” Lackey said. “It’s something where you get to show off a lot of personality and I think that’s where I shine. Geneva’s Reese Lackey performs in the finals of the floor exercise during the girls gymnastics state meet in Palatine on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (Brian O’Mahoney / The Beacon-News) “It’s not necessarily even the big skills because a lot of people have those big skills. But I like presenting myself.” Lackey’s presentation has always stood out. Her choreography and dancing match her athleticism. “She’s got a raw talent,” Geneva coach Kim Hostman said. “She is such a talented girl in gymnastics. I don’t want to say it comes easy to her, but she works hard and it obviously shows. “Her lines are beautiful, and she just has good presence out on the floor.” Geneva’s Reese Lackey competes in the finals of the floor exercise during the girls gymnastics state meet in Palatine on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (Brian O’Mahoney / The Beacon-News) During Friday’s preliminaries, Lackey counted two falls on balance beam in scoring 35.35 to finish 19th in the all-around. She was also 19th on bars with 8.95, 31st on beam at 8.15 and fourth on floor at 9.35. Lackey, a four-time state qualifier on floor, advanced to the finals in that event for the third consecutive year. She was fourth as a sophomore and junior. This season, Lackey perfected the double full she put into her routine late last winter. She ended her final tumbling pass with that and stuck it. “My routine has stayed pretty consistent throughout the season,” Lackey said. “But my double full at the end, that was definitely one for the stops.” Geneva’s Reese Lackey performs in the finals of the floor exercise during the girls gymnastics state meet in Palatine on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (Brian O’Mahoney / The Beacon-News) Hostman was thrilled to see the 9.6 flash on the scoreboard. “We’ve had the goal all season to get a 9.6 or higher and so this was it,” Hostman said. “She had this last opportunity, and it was just really awesome to see her take it all in and really do her best. “We worked really hard on the details and it really showed. She stuck every landing. There was really no errors in the whole routine.” But would it be good enough to win the championship? Lackey’s score put her in the lead with five gymnasts left to go. “I was definitely proud of the routine that I did,” Lackey said. “I felt excited about it. “I felt good going out of it. I just wanted to cheer on the rest of the girls because I know they’re doing the best they can, too.” Geneva’s Reese Lackey competes in the finals of the floor exercise during the girls gymnastics state meet in Palatine on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (Brian O’Mahoney / The Beacon-News) Nobody matched Lackey. Mundelein senior Lexie Ede came the closest, scoring 9.525 to finish second. Prairie Ridge junior Bryleigh Cooper, the last competitor, scored 9.425. That meant Lackey was the winner. “I had no idea that this would be the outcome,” she said. “I’m so excited.” Lackey is the first Geneva girl to win a state title on floor and just the second champion in program history, joining 2014 all-around champion Claire Rose Ginsberg. Lackey’s three state medals are second in Geneva history behind Ginsberg’s 10. Lackey has decided not to continue her gymnastics career. After overcoming a spate of injuries, including two broken ankles, she wants to become a physical therapist. “This will be the end,” Lackey said. “I’m so thankful that I get to be here and be recognized for all the hard work that all the gymnasts have done. It’s incredible.” Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News. ...read more read less