Fremd hits season high, clinches MSL West title

Fremd coach Elise Ference-Saisi talked about her girls gymnastics team taking baby steps this season in regard to its progress.

But the Vikings took a huge leap on Wednesday in its Mid-Suburban League West triangular.

Senior Lisa Radochonski took first in the all-around (36.90) powering Fremd to the West Division title at Palatine with a season-high score of 144.35.

A young and quickly improving Palatine squad took second with 138.90, and a Barrington team that was missing star senior Abby Hasanov finished a distant third with 131.30.

Fremd was also a bit short-handed due to illness, but after a shaky start on beam the Vikings found its rhythm - especially on floor, where all five girls went 9.2 or above.

"On the floor you could just feel the energy and vibe," said Radochonski, who won floor (9.6) and also added first-place finishes on vault (9.4) and bars (9.45). "We're always looking to do our best and each meet we are taking it one step at a time. As long as we are improving from the last meet we're happy with the scores."

Sophomore Abby Moran added to the Vikings big night by taking second on both floor (9.5) and beam (8.8).

Senior Gab Lytle came back from an early season ankle injury to take second on vault (9.3), with senior Alyssa Garcia tying for third place on vault (9.1).

Sophomore Melanie Ng added fourth-place finishes on bars (9.05) and beam (8.65), and senior Carly DeFilippo battled through an illness to take fourth on floor (9.4).

"From the beginning of the season I've feel like every practice we are getting better," said Lytle. "Emotionally and mentally we are pushing ourselves further and further.

"Tonight we wanted to go in and do better than last performance and that's what we did," said Ference-Saisi of the Vikings attack. "It's baby steps and getting the confidence back up."

Junior Kara Ure gave host Palatine a bit of energy by finishing second in the all-around (35.65). The Pirates junior also took second on the bars (9.2) and came back from a fall on beam to hit on the floor (9.3) in leading Palatine to its second-highest score of the season.

"I was struggling a bit on my second pass, but I managed to pull through it," said Ure of her floor performance. "We did the best that we could and we did pretty well."

Also adding to the Pirates' young team was sophomore Abigail Amato, who tied for third on vault (9.1) and tied for fourth on bars (9.05), with freshman Kristin Ure taking third on beam (8.7).

Hasanov, a senior, was a late scratch after tweaking her back in practice. Things got a bit worse when the Fillies only counted three scores on vault, which resulted in the team's lowest score of the season.

But the Fillies did deliver with a strong floor performance (37.0) powered by junior Rachel Timperman, who tied for second with a 9.5.

Senior Molly Blanke stepped up, taking first on beam (9.0), third on bars (9.15), and adding a solid floor routine (9.2).

Junior Hayley Nilles also contributed by tying for fourth place on beam (8.65) and lifting the Fillies with a solid bar routine (9.0)

"Not having Abby today was kind of hard," said Blanke, "but after seeing the scores for the floor it was a bit reassuring that we could pick it up if we stuck together as a team."