Scouting Fox Valley area girls gymnastics teams
BataviaCoach: Taryn Boyce (12th year)
Top returnees: Megan McGee (Sr., all-around), Lauren Stangl (Sr., all-around)
Key newcomers: Lillian Baty-Barr (Fr., all-around), Jessica Nena (Fr., all-around), Lauren Gould (Fr., all-around), Amelia Thorgensen (Fr., all-around), Bella Ethridge (Fr., all-around)
Outlook: Senior Megan McGree broke her femur over the summer, but amazingly has been cleared to come back and compete this winter. She's one of Batavia's top returnees, along with Lauren Stangl. “We've got a lot of young freshmen this year and they're all pretty solid,” Batavia coach Taryn Boyce said. “It's a really nice class.” The team lost a handful of gymnasts, including Courtney Glassman and Kristi Zabka so there should be plenty of opportunities to go around as Boyce will try to optimize the team score. “We've got a solid team of gymnasts with a lot of potential and a good work ethic,” she said. “It probably will be a little rough at the start, but there's a lot of talent on this team and the girls seem very motivated. It'll be fun to see how far they are able to come from the beginning toward the end of the season.” If the team has to look anywhere for inspiration, all they have to is watch McGee work regularly in practice. She's gone from rehabilitating a femur right back into gymnastics. “She's the most passionate kid you'll find in gymnastics,” Bouce said. “She wants to do bars and floor again so we'll see what happens.”
GenevaCoach: Kim Hostman (16th year)
Top returnees: Paige Beitzel (Jr., all-around), Lily Chapman (So., floor, vault, bars), Kelly Frank (So., all-around), Holly Friedel (So., all-around), Claire Ginsberg (Jr., all-around), Julia Grootens (Jr., vault, beam, floor), Molly Lambillotte (So., floor, vault)
Key newcomers: Gracie De Vita (Fr., all-around)
Outlook: Prairie Ridge co-op, Lyons and 12-time champion Fremd are the only three programs along with Geneva to advance to the state finals the past three seasons. Geneva is the only team among the four to not yet win a state title. The Vikings placed second last year, after taking fifth the previous two seasons. Geneva, which didn't even have a gymnastics team when Fremd won its first state title in 1985, has become a state power and with six top returnees, including 2014 state all-around champion Claire Ginsberg, there's little doubt the Vikings should field one of the top teams in the state again. “It's been a huge accomplishment to see how the program has grown so much,” Vikings' coach Kim Hostman said. “We had another fun year which was exciting to see and we're excited again this year. The expectations are very high and we were so young last year.” The loss of Grace Ginsberg and Megan Beitzel is big, but a solid group of sophomores excelled last season and have a year of high school experience now, while freshman Gracie DeVita joins the squad. Ginsberg was named team captain and will look to now lead by more than the fantastic all-around score she produces. “Claire is doing a good job of leading,” Hostman said. “And there's so much potential with this team.” This is the first time in program history that the Vikings do not have a senior on their team.
Prairie Ridge co-opCoach: Lee Battaglia (17th year)
Top returnees: Nikki Baars (Sr., all-around) Maddie Solka (Sr., all-around)
Key newcomers: Kira Karlblom (Fr., all-around), Maddie Kim (Fr., all-around), Kendall Rumford (Sr., all-around)
Outlook: After finishing as state runner-up two consecutive years, Prairie Ridge co-op won its first state title last February, scoring 150 points behind Rachael Underwood winning the all-around title. Underwood has taken her talents to Western Michigan University, but Prairie Ridge should remain strong with returning senior Maddie Solka, who shared the state title on parallel bars with Underwood. Also back for more is standout junior Nikka Baars, along with senior Kendall Rumford, who returns after a year away from the team. “We have more depth than last year,” coach Lee Battaglia said. “Hopefully (we can) stay injury free.” Injuries may be part of the sport, but no team has been hurt more by huge injuries to stellar gymnasts than Prairie Ridge has in recent years. Despite that, the team has advanced to state six straight seasons while bringing home a trophy the past four years. Overcoming the graduation of Underwood, Jada Berkland and Riley Mahoney will be significant, but it also gives a large group of newcomers a great opportunity. In addition to Rumford joining the squad, freshmen Maddie Kim, Kira Karlblom and Gabby Sysol, sophomore Katarina Schaffer, juniors Rosie Devine and Alyssa Petko and senior Becca Ruff will look to make an impact and maintain Prairie Ridge co-op's standing among the state's elite. “At the state meet we had four kids on two of the four events,” Battaglia said. “Counting four scores is tough. This year we have more depth than we have ever had. That 10th person on the team is a Level 9 gymnast and it goes up from there. It's a coach's dream. We have a lot of talent. It's more relaxed this year because we have a lot of depth. We don't know what the other schools have, but I know we should be stronger. We have a well-rounded team on everything. Anyone could be the highest scorer on any given day.”
St. Charles co-opCoach: Amy Wojdelko (8th year)
Top returnees: Dani Buoy (Sr., all-around), Mychaela Guy (So., vault, floor), Courtney Kellenberger (Sr., beam, floor) Emma Grace Redmond-Mattucci (So., all-around), Grace Levita (So., all-around), Sam Upshaw (Sr., beam)
Key newcomers: Lauren Carne (Fr., all-around)
Outlook: St. Charles co-op has the majority of its contributors back, including Emma Grace Redmond-Mattucci, who was one of the finest freshmen in the state last season. The team lost Racquel Favia to graduation and Jillian Horlbeck chose not to return to the team, but everyone else is back. “We have a strong veteran presence on our team,” coach Amy Wojdelko said. “We are looking forward to having a successful season.” The team advanced to state as recently as 2014. The dual loss of Favia and Horlbeck is a big one, but the return of Levita and Redmond-Mattucci is also a major positive. The team can count on those two scores for sure, while seniors Dani Buoy, Devon Ross, Courtney Kellenberger and Sam Upshaw bring back plenty of experience and leadership. Look for freshman Lauren Carne to make a nice addition. If she can perform at the level that Redmond-Mattucci and Levita did last winter, that would give the team three strong all-rounders. Also look for sophomore Mychaela Guy to also step up on vault and floor.
U-46 co-opCoach: Tim Whelan
Top returnees: Andi Haugan (Sr., all-around, Elgin), Ashley McKee (Jr., all-around, Bartlett), Emma Pawelkiewicz (Jr., all-around, Bartlett), Nykia Wetterman (Jr., balance beam, floor, Bartlett), Kayla Jensen (Jr., all-around, Bartlett), Madison Cruz (Jr., all-around, South Elgin), Kya Michels (So., all-around, South Elgin), Taegan Vinarsky (So., all-around, South Elgin)
Outlook: The U-46 co-op team has left the Upstate Eight Conference for the Independent Conference, which includes DeKalb-Sycamore, Oswego (co-op), Glenbard South, Riverside-Brookfield, Fenton and Geneseo. “When comparing our scores to the conference's performance last year we would go from seventh in the Upstate Eight to fourth in the Independent,” said coach Tim Whelan. “My goal for us is to finish in the Top 3.” Ashley McKee, Emma Pawelkiewicz and Madison Cruz will lead the way in the all-around competition, while Nykia Wetterman is a top performer on beam and floor. Taegan Vinarsky and Kayla Jensen are new to the team in all-around, while Kya Michels moves up to the varsity this season for all-around. Andi Haugan is usually an all-rounder but has been limited to bars due to an injury. “We have a small group of girls, but nearly all are all-around athletes,” said Whelan. “We will have to see which girls perform in the all-around the best and who will have to sacrifice events for the highest team score possible. We are equally strong in most events. Almost the entire team is all-around, so we don't have any specialists boosting scores in a single event. The closest to it would be Nykia on floor.” Whelan said the team has encountered some practice difficulties in the early going. “Not having our gym has been difficult,” he said. “We practice at Gymkhana and it can be very crowded at times. In the past, practicing full routines with music has been difficult to do. We have worked very hard to start our floor routines with music as soon as possible before other classes show up. We cannot complete as many floor routines as I would like, but we have been able to practice a sufficient amount. Whelan has been impressed with Cruz's progress so far this season. “Madison has worked very hard day in and day out,” he said. “She does not have the most difficult routine on each event, but is the most consistent in sticking them.” McKee has been slowed by a hand injury suffered on beam during the preseason. “This hurt us because has been a high scorer in all events for us,” Whelan said. “She is working on leaps and other skills that don't bear weight on her hand.”
Individual competitorsAt least one local individual gymnast will compete this winter. Molly Meehan, a sophomore, will represent Jacobs. “I am hopeful that Molly will qualify to sectionals and earn a trip to the state meet in February,” her coach Kim Harrier said. Talented gymnasts at Jacobs aren't anything new. Allison Riedel finished her career last year and advanced to state all four years. She tied for fifth in the all-around to become the third Jacobs gymnast to medal. Now Meehan has a few years to attempt to become the fourth.