Stevenson counting on senior swagger
Underclassmen have been known to heavily contribute in the sport of boys gymnastics.
But senior leadership could prove to be more important than ever for Lake County area squads as they embark on a season which will finish with an historic 60th annual high school state meet in mid-May.
Stevenson enjoyed a great 2010 season — culminating with the Patriots’ fourth state championship in school history by a very comfortable 4-point margin over runner-up Lincoln-Way co-op.
But the road to the Elite Eight state tournament will not be nearly as easy for the Patriots this spring as they will try to accomplish the feat with only two of their key all-arounders back to compete.
The good news for the Pats — the two elite all-arounders are proven veteran seniors Mike Wilner and Scott Siegel.
The bad news is that senior Alex Hoersten will not be returning this season after placing third in the state all-around last spring. Hoersten opted for club gymnastics, but he recently underwent major shoulder surgery and will not compete at all this season.
That puts Stevenson in an interesting situation.
The Patriots and Mundelein will really fire up their ongoing rivalry — with the much-improved Mustangs already posting a 144 in their first meet to a 141 for the Pats.
“We’re still really trying to figure out what we’re going to do and how we’re going to use all of our members to benefit them and the team,” said Stevenson coach Mike Farina, who competed at Minnesota in the Big Ten. “So we’re going to be changing our lineup and trying to figure out what is best.”
After a six-year hiatus from the state meet spotlight when Mundelein took third place in 2005, the Mustangs could be ready to again make a big push behind senior all-around standout Scott Marthinsen.
The six-time champions may not possess quite the same firepower they displayed during their past glory days, but Marthinsen and junior teammate Tim Beranek give Mundelein a great starting point in 2011.
Add to that solid duo impressive freshman all-arounder Colin McCarthym and the Mustangs may just have the trio they need to surpass the 150-point plateau and return to the Elite Eight.
“Tim (Beranek) and Colin (McCarthy) are fairly comparable in their all-around scores and Colin is getting close to having varsity-level routines,” said Mustangs coach Jesse Piland. “I would think that we should be a 150 team or better. We’ve got the talent and the tricks are there, they just have to stay clean and do what they are capable of doing.”
Marthinsen has already made three trips to the state meet as an individual. He has been a state title contender on vault since the early stages of his high school career and he qualified for state in three events last year.
Stevenson’s Wilner was a state finalist on still rings, vault and high bar, and he was state runner-up on still rings with a 9.6.
With so many seniors from last year’s top 10 graduated and other elite gymnasts choosing not to compete at the high school level, Wilner has emerged as a potential individual all-around state-title contender — a huge jump up his 12th place as a junior.
The long-time rivalry between the Patriots and Mundelein should be very interesting this season. The Mustangs appear to have the depth to topple Stevenson if early season polls and results hold up.
“Stevenson just has to concentrate on that third score and at the varsity level the events that are going to win it for you are pommel horse, high bar and still rings,” Piland said. “We’re gunning for state, no doubt about it. That is our focus.
“I think Scott (Marthinsen) would like to go out on a high note. He’s been to state every year, and maybe he can get on a podium or two.”
Libertyville may not have the depth or experience to make a push for the state meet this May, but the Wildcats are another Lake County squad led by an elite senior.
Craig Breckenridge tied for 18th in the 2010 state all-around.
Breckenridge is looking like at least a potential top-10 finisher or better this time around as he begins his third and final season.
“Craig is a natural gymnast, he’s smart and I think he’s going to have a lot of success,” said Libertyville coach Curt Austin, who was a two-time state tumbling champion. “He is physically a stronger gymnast than he was last year, and you’re going to see him develop as the season goes on.”
Breckenridge was Libertyville’s only state-meet qualifier last year, and he tied for eighth place on still rings.
The Wildcats are hoping for even more improvement from key junior all-arounder Evan Policht, who gained valuable experience at the varsity level last year.
“I think Evan is going to respond well getting back into competition,” Austin said. “We have a lot of athletic talent, but not a lot of experience. We’re definitely going to win the most improved award as the season progresses.”
On the state level, Addison Trail sophomore Matt Foster did not come out for the team this year after placing second in the state all-around competition as a freshman.