Fremd girls gymnastics coach named IHSA coach of the year

Fremd High School girls gymnastics Coach Elissa Ference has been named the 2014 Illinois High School Association Girls Gymnastics Coach of the Year.

The Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 Board of Education recognized Ference for her statewide honor at its meeting Thursday.

Superintendent Nancy Robb said that in Ference's two years as head coach of the Vikings team, she's led the girls to back-to-back Mid-Suburban League championships and a third-place finish at the state meet this past season.

Ference was previously honored as a 2014 Mid-Suburban League Coach of the Year.

"Anyone in here who's had an opportunity to watch her coach ... she is outstanding," Robb said in presenting the district's recognition plaque to Ference. "And again, we are very, very fortunate to have you with us."

Before being named head coach at Fremd in 2013, Ference was an assistant coach at both Fremd and Palatine high schools. She'd competed in gymnastics herself while a student at Palatine.

Ference credited the student athletes she's currently coaching for the honor she received.

"It is a great reflection on how well my kids are doing and how passionate they are about the sport," Ference said.