Fremd in trophy position; Larock excels for Prospect

Prairie Ridge co-op senior Rachael Underwood was second to none on Friday night at the girls gymnastics meet at Palatine.

Underwood ,who finished third in the all-around her freshman year and second in her sophomore year, left no doubt who was the best this year, cruising to the all-around title with a 38.225.

Underwood, a Cary-Grove student, had the top preliminary mark on the bars (9.575), tied for the top mark on beam (9.425), added a second on vault (9.8) and tied for seventh on floor (9.425) in a dazzling show to advance to Saturdays finals in all four events.

"The final year to be able to wrap the season up, it's a really great feeling," said Underwood who started her night off with clean bar routine and capped it by hitting a Yurchenko layout full on the vault. "I'm still in shock, I don't feel like it's real."

Underwood's performance elevated Prairie Ridge Co-op to the top team score with 149.35 points, putting the Wolves in solid position to win its first state title.

"This is something she really, really wanted," said Prairie Ridge co-op coach Lee Battaglia of Underwood's performance. "It was hers this year. I just told to hit her four events."

Geneva (146.75 points) holds a slight advantage over Fremd (146.625 points) for second place with Barrington (143.925 points) a distance fourth followed by Prospect (143.50).

Saturday finals in individual events and team trophies will begin at 5:45 p.m.

Prospect senior Maddie Larock had accomplished just about everything she could as a gymnast, the only piece missing was a state medal. The Knights senior added that piece on Friday going 4-for-4 in taking second in the all-around (37.875).

Larock tied for third on the beam (9.375), took fourth on the floor (9.5), added a fifth-place finish on bars (9.425), and capped her night by tying for seventh on the vault (9.575) in advancing to Saturday's finals in all four events.

"I'm very happy to be able to hit in my last state meet is pretty special," said Larock who will looking to add to her medal count on Saturday. "I felt really comfortable tonight, and hitting on the bars really got things rolling."

Fremd senior Christine Radochonski had a nasty fall on the beam, but the Vikings senior didn't blink in hitting the third-best preliminary mark on the floor (9.525). She also secured a spot in Saturday's finals on the vault, tying for the seventh-best mark (9.575).

"It's my senior year, so I wanted to do it for my team," said Radochonski of her performance that put Fremd in solid position to earn its 23rd state trophy. "The team set me up so nicely on the floor and I just fed off their energy."

Fremd made an early statement on it opening vault series hitting a nifty 37.925 team score, with junior Carly DeFilippo advancing to the final with a 10th-place finish (9.525).

"When we all hit vault it gave us that push," said DeFilippo. "To start that way was more than what we could have asked for."

Barrington senior Abby Hasanov definitely gave her team a lift, tying for seventh on both the vault (9.575) and floor (9.425) and advancing in both events. Hasanov earned three state medals last season and put herself in solid position to add to her tally this season.

"It's my third state meet and I just wanted to hit," said Hasanov of her performance "It feels great."

Rolling Meadows junior Kelly Johnston made quite an impression on her opening series, tying for the top preliminary mark on beam (9.425) and earning her first spot in the finals.

"Right when I landed I felt a big load go off my shoulders," said Johnston of her beam series. "I'm really excited for finals."

Jacobs senior Allison Riedel also made good on her final state appearance, tying for fifth and earning her first state medal in the all-around (37.20) while also advancing to the finals with a 10th-place effort vault (9.525).

"It a great feeling," said Riedel of her big performance. "I've put a lot of work in and to be able to hit was pretty special."