Scouting DuPage County girls gymnastics
Top teams: Downers Grove North, Downers Grove South, Glenbard West, Wheaton Warrenville co-op.
Top returning individuals: Alyssa Alberti (Downers Grove North, so., all-around), Amber Broucek (Glenbard West, sr., all-around), Petrina Chino (Wheaton co-op, sr., bars, beam), Sarah DeStefano (Glenbard West, sr., all-around), Julie Galo (Wheaton co-op, sr., all-around), Michelle Glover (Glenbard South, so., all-around), Amanda Leon (Hinsdale Central, so., all-around), Colleen Moauro (Neuqua Valley, jr., floor, bars), Maddie Nowak (Hinsdale South, sr., all-around), Alison Oakes (Glenbard West, jr., beam, floor, vault), Kennedy O'Neill (Addison Trail, jr., all-around), Claire Samojedny (Waubonsie/Metea Valley co-op, jr., all-around), Jill Schuberth (Naperville Central, sr., all-around), Veronica Srey (Glenbard East, jr., all-around), Emily Tom (Downers Grove South, sr., all-around), Kelly Zehnder (Lake Park, so., all-around).
Top meets: Big Purple Invite at Downers Grove North, Dec. 5; Al Galatte Invite at Rolling Meadows, Dec. 5; Candy Cane Invite at Hersey, Dec. 12; Illinois Best Invite at Wheaton Warrenville co-op, Dec. 19; Panther Invite at Oswego, Dec. 22; Naperville North Invite, Jan. 9; Neuqua Valley Invite, Jan. 16, York Invite, Jan. 23; DuPage Valley Conference championship at Neuqua Valley, Jan. 29; West Suburban Silver championship at TBA, Jan. 30.
Outlook: The new-look DuPage Valley Conference will be the biggest change this winter, with Neuqua Valley and Waubonsie Valley/Metea Valley co-op joining the conference. Glenbard North won the conference meet last year but didn't run away with the title. Wheaton Warrenville co-op had the best postseason meet in the conference, scoring a 140.925 during the sectional. Both teams lost some quality gymnastics due to graduation, but it appears as if Wheaton co-op returns a lot of talent whereas Glenbard North is in rebuilding mode around senior Allison Wahrman.
Most of Wheaton co-op's roster received their high school diplomas late last spring, so the roster is revamped, although senior state qualifiers Julie Galo and Petrino Chino return along with junior all-arounder Laura Hughes. If the year proves to be something truly special, those three will need to mesh and get strong scores from an impressive class of freshmen, including Jackie Kertha, Jillian Horvatin, Maggie O'Hara and Macy Smykal. "We have a strong crop of freshmen to help replace the eight seniors that graduated last year," Wheaton co-op coach Maureen Kermend said.
Glenbard North's roster has been overhauled due to substantial graduation losses and junior Erin Bregman's choice not to compete. "With the loss of many talented seniors and club gymnasts, we will not be seeing the scores we have seen the past few years," Panthers coach Kristin Nordquist said. Wahrman is back. She's already committed to the University of Iowa for track, but she's not going to pass up a final chance at gymnastics, while sophomore Delaney Guy is a talented newcomer to the program. "Delaney will be a huge contributor on all events and will hopefully be a contender at state," Nordquist said.
Lake Park will feel the losses of especially Linnae Capuder and Jesse-Lee VandenEykel, but the Lancers return some strong gymnastics, including sophomore Kelly Zehnder and senior Izzy Shaw, who returns after missing last season with a torn ACL. Chloe Capuder and Marissa DiBenedetto also return, among others, while freshmen Nina Gallichio and Andie Granskog join the team.
The Michaela Robert era is over at Naperville North so there's a new dynamic with the Huskies, who will field a young team with a lot of new faces. "The girls are hard workers and there is definitely a sense of unity and team building among such a young group of new girls," Huskies coach Chris Stanicek said. "Our main goal this year is to work together as a team, learn new skills in order to elevate our routines and begin to develop a new face at Naperville North." Grace Ryan and Bella Mandarino return while freshmen Leah Molloy and Samantha Pearson join the program.
Senior state qualifier Jill Schuberth returns to lead a young Naperville Central squad. Redhawks coach Glen Reimers says that freshmen Rose Fritz, Hailey Haumann, Natalie Stephens and Madelyn Surin will be in the mix. "It should be an interesting season trying to better last year's score and getting to sectionals as a team," Reimers said. Specialists Cristina McCormack and Sam Barber also return.
Darragh McDermott is the latest new coach at Neuqua Valley. "We have a lot of new gymnasts this year with a lot of determination and talent," McDermott said. "We are looking forward to competing this season and fine tuning our skills on all events." Three-sport athlete, Colleen Moauro and Shalinee Abraham, both juniors, are back to lead the team. Karina Hiltebrand and Deepika Ramachandran also return, while three newcomers should also contribute.
Premier West's Phillip Gilmer is the new coach at Waubonsie/Metea Valley co-op. Junior Claire Samojedny, who qualified for sectionals as an all-arounder and to state on the bars, is back to the lead the team. Ally Burke, Emma Holtan and Taylor Schuch and a few newcomers are also expected to contribute. The team peaked at 132 points last winter.
Addison Trail welcomes new coach Kyle Padera. The first-year coach helped Wheaton co-op win a boys title in 2005 while also setting a state scoring record of 167.35. Padera also won the all-around title that year. Now the young coach takes over for the Blazers. "The team this year is young and gritty," he said. "We have a great returning varsity with a promising young freshman (Maddie Rumps) adding to the already established moxie of the squad." Padera hinted that the Blazers would probably mix up their lineup to showcase the depth and determination of their gymnasts. All-arounders Kennedy O'Neill and Terra Garcia, both juniors, are team captains who will be counted on to lead the team. Junior Tiffany Rodela joins Rumps as a key addition.
Downers Grove South coach Kristyn Campos believes this year's team is as strong as she's had in many years. That's saying something as the Mustangs went undefeated in conference last year and qualified for sectionals. "The addition of two freshmen to the varsity level will help add depth to the lineup," Campos said. "The returning gymnasts have worked hard in the off-season to improve their skills." Senior Emily Tom returns to lead the Mustangs, along with juniors Kayla Carlson, Ewa Wisniewski and Paige Vondrasek and sophomore Lindsay Tom. Freshmen Abby Carlson and Andrea Davenport are new to the squad.
Hinsdale South has one of the elite gymnasts in the state for one more season. Maddie Nowak returns after finishing fifth in the all-around last year at state while also placing fourth on vault, fifth on bars and seventh in the floor exercise. Whether or not the Hornets can add three quality scores with hers to make a deep run as a team is the key question. Sophomore Erin Haney, who is coming from club competition, is gifted and would give the team a great 1-2 punch, but she's coming off an injury. Senior Erica Meyer and sophomore Kaitlin Hall scored in the 32-range last year, while Sam Smith joins the squad as a freshman. "I'm looking forward to working with a team this year that is full of girls who are excited and passionate about the upcoming season," Hornets coach Mia Tritch said.
It appears to be a year of rebuilding for Willowbrook, although seniors Katherine Gibson, Jackie Bliss and Amari Ward return. "Our focus will be on personal bests and skill development," Warriors coach Annette Nocek said. "Most of the team this season is new to the sport and we are making progress daily."
Glenbard West returns nearly its entire team that scored a 141.225 at the sectional last year so it looks to be in great shape in the always-competitive West Suburban Silver. "We will have an abundance of depth and several talented athletes to compete for spots on all four events," Hilltoppers coach Carlos Fuentes said. "This is a team with a lot of experience that will look to start slow and make big gains throughout the year." Senior all-arounders Amber Broucek and Sarah DeStefano lead a strong team of returning specialists, while freshmen Maddie Diab, Katherine Hoban and Claire McGurk offer a lot of fresh talent that's capable in every event.
York is another team excited about its freshmen class with all-arounders Savannah Baron, Sydney Hill and Olivia Romano to battle returnees Maya Moran and Gillian Berg. Senior specialist Justine O'Leary also returns. Coach Tammy Henderson said the freshmen "are going to push our returning gymnasts to new levels. I am pleased with the determination and spirit that our team has already shown. I am looking forward to a great season."
Hinsdale Central will be young. Only six gymnasts on their 33-person roster are seniors. The Red Devils' top scoring all-arounder is sophomore Amanda Leon. Fellow sophomore Lily Jones also returns, while Kylie Torsberg is a key freshman acquisition. The goals for the team remain the same as they generally always have been, "to be in the top three in conference, win regionals, win sectionals and make it to state as a team," Red Devils coach Kim Estoque said.
Downers Grove North has a small team with only seven gymnasts on its roster, but the Trojans only lost one gymnast from last year and its top all-arounders, including sophomore Alyssa Alberti and juniors Nicolet Christen and Becky Donnelly return. Senior Alex Chapa is one of the veterans of the team while incoming freshmen Maddi Johnson should be a strong addition to help the team improve in conference and try to quality for sectionals as a team for the second consecutive year.
Glenbard East makes the move to the Independent Conference. The Rams aren't the only newcomer to the conference. Geneva, which placed second in the state last year, also joins the conference, along with Batavia and St. Charles co-op. Junior Veronika Srey is coming off a great season, while fellow juniors Megan Smith and Briana Finn and sophomore Krasimira Ganeva also return. "I am hoping we will do well in our new conference and hopefully be able to score in the 130s," Rams coach Jessica Bugajsky said. Sophomore specialist Breanna Page and freshmen all-arounders Sierra and Sydney Nasternak give the Rams three strong underclassmen.
Glenbard South has reason to be excited this winter with seniors Stephanie Mondragon and Katie Longo back, along with sophomore Michelle Glover, who had a fantastic freshman season. In addition, the Raiders welcome a pair of gifted all-arounders in sophomore Sarah Nordella and freshman Katie Kibby. They'll try to fill the void created due to graduation of Kate Rumel among others. "I can't wait to see what the future holds for this group of young ladies," Raiders coach Lee Wood said.
Fenton scored a 109.4 at the Independent Conference last season and should be vastly improved since most of its team returns. Sophomores Kaitlyn Jordan and Katrina Kresbasch and juniors Cassidy Feddersen and Angela Calabrese all return for Bison coach Paula Parat.