Girls gymnastics: Scouting Northwest
MID-SUBURBAN EASTBuffalo GroveCoach: Stephanie Schrader (15 years) and Allison Leslie
Key losses: Diandra Duenser, Sarah Cottone.
Varsity gymnasts: Teresa Riles (sr.), Dagmara Sobolak (fr.), Kara Tyner (jr.), Emily Ruby (jr.), Bridget Donnowitz (jr.), Melanie Goldfarb (jr.), Hannah Lim (jr.), Madison Morelli (fr.).
Outlook: Riles will anchor the Bison attack this season. BG finished seventh in the MSL last season and hit their season-high (138.25) in early December. Sobolak is also looking to give the Bison a jolt.
Elk GroveCoach: Amy Burke (second year).
Key losses: Anna Bonder, Angel Skuse.
Varsity gymnasts: Anna Sprenger (so.), Jessica Hadler (so.), Katie Talens (fr.), Hailey Bantog (sr.), Idania Bahena (sr.).
Outlook: Sprenger and Hadler are the top returning gymnasts and will lead the Grenadiers' effort. Talens has also looked impressive early and should add points for the Grens. Elk Grove finished 10th in the MSL last season and hit a season high 136.6 in mid-January.
HerseyCoach: Shannon Barrett
Key losses: Alysa Zurlo.
Varsity gymnasts: Maggie Barton (sr.), Mackenzie Kamysz (jr.), Allie Heidrich (sr.), Tori Schmidt (sr.), Ashley Zurlo (fr.).
Outlook: Hersey enters the season with high expectations. The Huskies won the MSL East title and also earned its first regional title in 25 years in a successful run last season. Kamysz (beam, floor) and Barton (floor) also qualified individually to the state meet and will pace the attack this season. Heidrich and Schmidt offer plenty of experience. Hersey finished third in the MSL last season and hit a season high (141.90) in mid-December. Look for the Huskies to be in the thick of things at season's end.
ProspectCoach: Bridget Erickson (second year).
Key losses: Megan Donner, Olivia Sullo, Abby Gonzalez (due to injury).
Varsity gymnasts: Madelyn Marx (sr.), Margaret McCue (sr.), Jane Williams (jr.), Daniela Rizzi (jr.), Erica Schickerling (jr.), Stefania Sullo (jr.), Kaitlyn Granato (jr.), Rosie Barros (jr.), Alexandra Zeppos (fr.), Jillian Schmit (fr.), Julia Fasick (fr.).
Outlook: Prospect qualified for back-to-back state meets in 2014 and 2015, and this year the Knights will be looking to get back in contention after missing the state meet last season. Marx and McCue will lead the endeavor. Prospect is also optimistic about a trio of freshmen that include Zeppos, Schmit, and Fasick. Prospect finished ninth in the MSL last season and hit a season high (136.6) in mid-December.
Rolling MeadowsCoach: Michael Costas (11 years).
Key losses: Kelly Johnston
Varsity gymnasts: Victoria Zervos (sr.), Katie Reich (so.), Nicole Kane (fr.), Jenna Burke (fr.), Jennifer Kokotis (jr.), Margret Morgan (sr.), Margret Neicikowski (jr.).
Outlook: The Mustangs will miss the contributions of Johnston, who earned two state medals, including a state title on the beam in 2015. Look for Zervos to lead the way. The senior was a having strong season before being injured last season, but is back this season as a leader. A pair of freshmen are also looking to provide a spark, as Kane and Burke are hoping to contribute early. Rolling Meadow should be better this season after finishing eighth in the MSL last season and hitting a season-best (136.95) in early January.
WheelingCoach: Nicole Maila (fifth year).
Key losses: Hannah Bradford.
Varsity gymnasts: Jessica Stavros (so.), Anna Emery (so.), Emily Lucas (so.), Alexis Knight (so.), Taylor Bradshaw (fr.).
Outlook: Wheeling offers a young lineup, but the Wildcats are hoping to make some noise. Stavros, Emery, Lucas, and Knight all gained valuable varsity experience last season and will power the efforts this season. Bradshaw is also looking to contribute. Wheeling finished 11th in the MSL with a season best 122.70.
MID-SUBURBAN WESTBarringtonCoach: Jason Loeffler (20 years).
Key losses: Abby Hasanov, Molly Blanke, Morgan Eisenhauer.
Varsity gymnasts: Hayley Nilles (sr.), Sydney Goodman (so.), Sarah Ruesch (so.), Alana Riemenschneider (fr.), Natalie Franzese (so.), Ashley Diaz (fr.), Amelia Lunn (fr.).
Outlook: Barrington has qualified to the state meet for three consecutive years and finished sixth last year. The Fillies will miss Hasanov, who earned seven state medals during her four years, including three second-place medals last season in the all-around, vault and floor. Look for Nilles to lead the Fillies this season. The senior had a break-out year last season while qualifying to state on the bars and beam. There will be a lot of new faces this season - keep an eye on Ruesch and Diaz. Barrington finished second in the MSL last season, won a regional title and also took second at the Schaumburg sectional, capping its season with its third consecutive state appearance. The Fillies' high mark last season was 145.95.
ConantCoach: Anthony Avella (second year).
Key losses: Bailey Hornstein.
Varsity gymnasts: Mariana Vazquez-Rosas (sr.), Bella Ostrowski (sr.), Mel Meyrick (sr.), Bailey Bloom (jr.), Kennedy O'Connor (fr.), Julia Betts (fr.), Sydney Tong (so.).
Outlook: The Cougars are team on the rise. Meyrick made quite an impression in her first season in high school gymnastics, winning the MSL all-around title and tying for a fifth place medal on beam at the state meet. The senior will lead her team and is one of top returning gymnasts around after qualifying to the state meet in all four events and also in the all-around. Bloom will also contribute; the junior was a state qualifier on beam and is looking to build off a strong finish to last season. Betts, O'Connor, and Tong will give the Cougars depth. Conant is looking to improve on its fifth-place MSL finish and its season-best mark of 139.40.
FremdCoach: Elise Ference-Saisi
Key losses: Carly DeFilippo, Maggie Betti, Alyssa Garcia, Grace Korn, Mariah Gura, Gab Lytle, Lisa Radochonski.
Varsity gymnasts: Abby Moran (jr.), Courtney Ng (jr.), Melanie Ng (jr.), Kaylin Lemajeur (jr.), Ellyce Wong (jr.), Gianna Christodoulopoulos (so.), Kate Watson (so.), Sam Shirmer (fr.), Gabi Shelfhout (fr.), Katie Vessell (fr.).
Outlook: Fremd lost a big part of its team that finished seventh in state last season. The Vikings will offer plenty of new faces, but Moran and Melanie Ng were big contributors last season and will help ease the transition. Melanie Ng came on strong at the end of last season and should set the tone this season. Also keep an eye on Courtney Ng and Lemajeur, who missed last season due to injuries. It may be a rebuilding year for the Vikings, but the goal is always the same for a team that has earned 23 state trophies. Look for Fremd to be in contention for a state berth again and also be in the thick of the MSL race. Fremd earned its 23rd MSL title last season, won a regional title and finished third at the Schaumburg sectional en route to its state appearance. The Vikings hit a season-best mark of 147.025 in mid-January last season.
Hoffman EstatesCoach: David Calisch (first year).
Varsity gymnasts: Olivia Biggs (fr.), Charlee Campos (fr.), Hunter Freye (fr.), Kinga Brudz (so.), Abby Fuscone (so.), Jessica Holt (so.), Darcy Majeske (sr.).
Outlook: The Hawks offer a young team that will count on seniors Majeske, Cassie Casanova, Janet Martinez and Megan Walters to provide leadership. The Hawks are focusing on getting better each meet. Hoffman Estates finished 12th in the MSL last season and hit a season-best 120.85 in early December.
PalatineCoach: Terry Theobald (34 years).
Varsity gymnasts: Kara Ure (sr.), Kristen Ure (so.), Abby Amato (jr.), Callee Aikman (jr.), Ashley Jackson (sr.), Carrie Raymond (sr.), Jess Streepy (so.), Christina DiGioia (jr.).
Outlook: The Pirates were a young team that hit its stride late last season, qualifying as a team to the Schaumburg sectional. This year the Pirates are hoping to take the next step and qualify to the state meet. It starts with Kara Ure, one of the top returning all-arounders in the MSL. The senior will anchor a deep Pirates attack as Kristen Ure, Amato, Aikman and DiGioia also were big contributors for the Pirates last season. Palatine has high expectations for this season and should be in the hunt for both an MSL title and state berth. Palatine finished fourth in the MSL last season and hit a season-best 141.10 in mid-January.
SchaumburgCoach: Elizabeth Prostka (fourth year).
Key losses: Caiti Poland, Alyssa Kizska, Jess Muza.
Varsity gymnasts: Mikayla Vogt (jr.), Alison Janega (sr.), Cj Kulprathipanja (so.), Kelsey Horwath (jr.), Haley Grelyak (jr.), Orianna O'Mera (jr.), Mina Mazeikis (jr.), Nikki Kolodziej (fr.), Madisen Parla (fr.)
Outlook: Vogt will anchor the Saxons' effort. The junior was a state qualifier on beam and took second in the MSL on floor last season. She was slowed by an injury during the postseason but is looking to return strong this season. Janega and Kulprathipanja will combine with Vogt in giving the Saxons a nice core. Schaumburg is also excited about the potential of its newcomers. The Saxons should offer a solid group that will contend. Schaumburg finished sixth in the MSL last season and had a season-high score of 135.25.
CENTRAL SUBURBAN NORTHMaine WestCoach: Amanda Harrison (fifth year).
Key losses: Marissa Gradei, Briana Gall.
Varsity gymnasts: Morgan Black (fr.), Lily Sanchez (fr.), Gabriella Demma (so.), Rayna Davis (so.), Christa Niewinski (jr.), Rachel Mathews (jr.), Kasey Connor (jr.).
Outlook: The Warriors will miss Gradei, who was a state qualifier on the beam, floor and all-around. Gradie also won the all-around at the CSL meet and Maine South regional. Demma now steps in to lead a young attack that will feature several new faces, including Black and Sanchez. Maine West finished fifth in the CSL North and hit a season-high (123.45) in early January.
WEST SUBURBAN GOLDLeydenCoach: Jennifer Thomas (fifth year).
Key losses: Abby Grande, Alyssa Laskowski, Erlyn Carrera.
Varsity gymnasts: Esther Aldana (jr.), Faustyna Karpiesiuk (fr.), Justyna Luberda (sr.), Lalli Solis (sr.), Anna Stasik (jr.), Alexis Weiner (fr.), Liz Treto (jr.).
Outlook: Aldana is the top returning gymnast for the Eagles, but Karpiesiuk and Weiner are looking to contribute quickly. Leyden finished fifth in the WSG last season and hit a season-high 115.85 in late January.