Taylor Shanahan wants more than a return trip to state this gymnastics season.

Mundelein’s lone senior would also like to advance to the state meet with her team. Last season, she missed making finals by one place in two events, balance beam and uneven bars.

Shanahan is off to a good start this season, having performed well in the Mustangs’ first two North Suburban Conference dual meets as well as the Hersey invitational. She shined again Wednesday night, capturing first place in all four events and posting a 37.4 in the all-around, as Mundelein chalked up a 139.8 in beating visiting Warren (131.25).

“I’m going to trust my training. I’m in a good spot right now,” Shanahan said. “I just hope to stay healthy and keep improving throughout the year. I hope I can finish out my senior year strong, and we would like to make it to state as a team.”

Shanahan earned a 9.5 on bars, 9.4 on floor exercise, 9.3 on vault and 9.2 on beam. Mustangs freshman Sydney Naddy placed second on vault (8.95) and tied for second on bars (8.6) with fellow freshman Audrey Kafka. Maggie Franz finished third on vault (8.75) and tied for third on beam (8.6) with Kafka, while Mundelein sophomore Katie Miller was second on floor (8.8) and third in the all-around (33.1).

“We were really surprised in our first meet when we hit 140 (against Libertyville),” Mundelein coach Jamie Brongiel said. “We weren’t expecting that off the bat with four new varsity members. If they want to get better, and that’s what we’re striving for, they can get higher than 140. We’re hoping they can reach 142, and I would love that goal for them.”

Warren set its season-high and is improving each time out with some young gymnasts. Danniella Strauss chalked up second in the all-around (33.4), while Carly Baun took second on beam (8.8). Sharon Dhali was third on floor (8.6).

“Being in the 130s was really good for us,” Warren assistant coach Jillian Kroot said. “I thought we did really well. Beam was solid, and it will be our best event all year. We did pretty well in the other events, too.”

Conant tops Palatine, Fremd: Conant’s girls gymnastic team was a bit tired and a little sore on Wednesday, but the Cougars countered how they were feeling by showing a bit of grit.

After scoring a 140.80 in a nonconference duel meet on Tuesday, Conant had little time to recover.

But senior Mel Meyrick (36.85) took first in the all-around, lifting the host Cougars to an impressive Mid-Suburban West dual meet victory with 139.55 points.

Palatine also is on the way up and took second with a season-best 138.05, followed by Fremd at 134.45.

The Cougars started slowly on the vault and bars, but came charging back on beam (35.60) and floor (36.25) to improve 3-0 in the MSL West.

“We were a bit shaky on the first two events,” said Conant coach Anthony Avella of his team’s opening after a short turnaround. “But we showed some toughness and resilience coming through on the final two events.”

Meyrick led the charge by taking first on vault (9.4) and floor (9.45) and tying for first on the beam (9.3).

“I’m little sore and really tired,” said Meyrick the defending MSL all-around champion who also took first in the all-around on Tuesday with a 36.55. “I felt like we pushed through today.”

Sophomore Sydney Tong also came up big for the Cougars, tying for third in the all-around (34.00), tying for third on bars (8.7) and tying for fourth on the beam (9.0).

Senior Bella Ostrowski added to the attack with a fourth-place finish on floor (9.05).

Last season, Conant’s best mark was 139.40, but the Cougars have already passed that mark four times this season, including hitting a season-best of 142.35. Avella feels his team has more to offer.

“I feel good with where we are,” said Avella, “and I feel our best is yet to come.”

Palatine is also feeling pretty good, and for good reason. Senior Kara Ure took second in the all-around (36.25 ) in powering the Pirates to its season-best effort.

“It’s perfect,” said Palatine coach Terry Theobald of his rising squad. “We’re going right up the ladder.”

Ure set the tone by tying for first on the beam (9.3), and added second-place finishes on the vault (9.1) and floor (9.35).

“We’re all excited,” said Ure. “We have been doing the numbers in practice and we came in with a lot of confidence.”

Junior Callee Aikman also has emerged for Palatine this season and continued to impress on Wednesday. She tied for third in the all-around (34.0) and took third on floor (9.10). Junior Abby Amato ended on a big note by taking first on the bars (8.9), with senior Ashley Jackson taking third on the vault (9.0).

A young Fremd team is also on the move. The Vikings started slowly but came on strong with a meet-ending beam performance. Junior Courtney Ng took third on the beam (9.2).

Junior Melanie Ng added a second place finish on bars (8.8) and tied for fourth on beam (9.0), with junior Abby Moran adding a fifth-place finish on floor (8.95) and a solid beam routine (8.7).

“We have been strong on beam the last couple of meets,” said Moran. “We’ve been focusing on numbers and I think it paid off.”

• Schedule change: The Palatine Invite on Saturday has changed its starting time from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

— Michael Eaken