Tri-Cities girls gymnastics season preview
Batavia
Coach: Taryn Boyce (11th year)
Top returnees: Courtney Glassman (Sr., all-around), Cameron Hindel (So., all-around), Meghan McGee (Jr., all-around), Lauren Stangl (Jr., bars/all-around), Kristi Zabka (Sr., all-around).
Key newcomers: Alyssa Dian (Fr., all-around), Madi Runge (Fr., all-around)
Outlook: Injuries have slowed the Bulldogs the past couple seasons and once again they're going to be an issue this year as senior Kristi Zabka is coming back from shoulder surgery and junior Lauren Stangl has not been able to return to her old form yet after sustaining a knee injury freshman year. If they can return to form, the Bulldogs should put up some good numbers as senior Courtney Glassman, junior Megan McGee and sophomore Cameron Hindel also return. "I think we'll be in the 130s so we'll be decent," Batavia coach Taryn Boyce said. "We definitely have a lot of depth and a lot of talent." Boyce also has a new assistant coach, Kim Kane, and she'll look to help the Bulldogs optimize their talent. "Courtney has she's stayed consistent," Boyce said. "Meghan is kicking butt right now, but Lauren was only doing bars last year after she blew her knee out so she's still trying to come back." Batavia added two freshmen to the team, but ideally they'll start at the JV level and progress upward as needed.
Geneva
Coach: Kim Hostman (15th year)
Top returnees: Megan Beitzel (Sr., all-around), Claire Ginsberg (So., all-around), Grace Ginsberg (Sr., all-around)
Key newcomers: Paige Beitzel (So., all-around), Lily Chapman (Fr., floor, vault), Holly Friedel (Fr., all-around), Kelly Frank (Fr., all-around), Julia Grootens (So., vault, beam, floor), Molly Lambillotte (Fr., floor).
Outlook: Like most teams that did great things last year, the Vikings bid farewell to some fantastic gymnasts due to graduation, namely Dominique Brognia and Claire Scatterday. They also lost a key contributor, McKenna Merges, who will miss the season with an injury. Still, the team expects to live up to the standard its set the past two years in advancing to the state finals and placing fifth. They can do that again because they return three talented all-arounders, led by defending all-around state champion Claire Ginsberg. Her older sister Grace and Megan Beitzel also return and are the team's lone seniors. "We do have a lot of newcomers but it's actually going to be nice to have a lot more depth than we had last year when we had six on the team," Vikings coach Kim Hostman said. "We're excited to see how we can do. The bar is set high for our goals this season." If the Vikings stay healthy, the key is going to be constructing that fourth score or that backup score for their three top all-arounders. The nice thing is Hostman can use her underclassmen sparingly, and have them focus as specialists to achieve it. With six newcomers filling in that role, it should be interesting to watch how it may come together.
St. Charles co-op
Coach: Amy Lill (8th year)
Top returnees: Danielle Buoy (Jr., all-around), Raquel Favia (Sr., all-around), Samantha Upshaw (Jr., beam, floor, vault)
Key newcomers: Mychaela Guy (Fr., floor, vault), Jillian Horlbeck (Jr., vault, beam), Grace Levita (Fr., all-around), Emma Grace Redmond-Mattucci (Fr., all-around), Samantha Ross (Fr., all-around),
Outlook: When you cross off the talented gymnasts from last year's team who are now long gone - Courtney Buoy, Sidney Copeland, Rachel Dugan, Kelly Gorniak, Cathryn Gotlund, Sierra Thiesse - you'd have to wonder if anyone's left. While those gymnasts helped the team get to state the past two years, and will be missed, there are plenty of newcomers and a solid mix of returnees that should allow St. Charles to continue to be among the best teams in the state. "I think they'll be able to pick up where those other girls were," St. Charles coach Amy Lill said. "I've been blessed with depth in every single event and their scores are very comparable to some of the girls from last year." Juniors Courtney Kellenberger and Devon Ross and senior Jordan McQuade also return. Since the returnees all spent some time on JV last year and at least five gymnasts will be new to the team, how they all adjust to being regular varsity contributors will be key. "We look forward to seeing their potential and what they are able to accomplish this season," Lill said. "Our goal is to make it to state as a team."