Boys gymnastics: Scouting Northwest
Scouting boys gymnastics
It was a banner year for Mid-Suburban League boys gymnastics teams last season as three qualified to the state finals. Fremd finished third, Schaumburg fourth and Palatine fifth for the best season in over 20 years for the MSL. This year, area teams will look to piggyback on that momentum. Top individual gymnasts include Palatine's Prakash Nigam and Christian Lunsford, Fremd's Eric Barnd, Schaumburg's Chasen Chau and Barrington's Camron Hardegee.
MID-SUBURBAN EASTBuffalo GroveCoach: Zach Crandall
Lost from last season: Leo Cuellar, Josh Opperman, Colin Bush, Zach Fickett
Returning gymnasts: Daniel Gerovoy, Sr., AA; Bartek Orlowski, Jr., FX, V; Carlo Cirrincione, Sr., FX, V; Jack Delattre, Sr., FX, V; Jorge Jaime-Rivera, Sr., PH; Kyle Zyck, Sr., PH; Sean Sparkowski, Sr., SR, PB, HB; Michael Trandicosta, Sr., SR, PB.
New gymnasts: Paulie Domian, Jr., V, PB, HB; Dylan Horvath, Jr., FX, SR, PB, HB; Dabine Yim, Jr., PH; Jared Cihlar, Jr., PH; Matt Rivard, Jr., SR, HB; Kyle Sparkowski, Jr., SR, PB; Jesus Gonzalez, Sr., HB; Ilie Vartic, Sr., FX, SR, V, HB; Erik Delgado, Jr., FX, PB; Vlad Varvaruk, So., FX
Outlook: Crandall will use a bevy of Bison to get the job again this season. BG had nine state qualifiers last season, and with five returning the hope to springboard the team toward collective postseason achievement. "We are hoping to make a strong run at qualifying for the state meet as a team this year," Crandall said.
Elk GroveCoach: Ryan Dengel
Lost from last season: Ivan Rodriguez, Dan Medina.
Returning gymnasts: Jim Briggs, Sr., PB, HB; Nico Bahena, Jr., AA
New gymnasts: Luke Alcazar, Jr., AA; Tim Sarmiti, Jr., AA; Jairo Ramirez, Soph., PH , SR, V, PB HB; Erik Cuatepitzi, Soph., PH, SR, PB HB; Ted Enolva, Soph., FX, PH, V, PB; Alex Martinez, Jr., FX, V; Tomas Cruz, Jr., SR PB HB.
Outlook: Dengel inherits a youthful squad that is low in experience, but high in enthusiasm and numbers. "The Grens look to improve throughout the season and gain momentum heading into the state tournament," he said.
HerseyCoach: Dustin Berman
Lost from last season: Jon Phelps, Matt Phelps, Will Nicholson, Mathias Newman
Returning gymnasts: Jason Urban, Sr., AA; Matt Bednar, Soph., AA; Nate Campbell, Sr.,PH.
New gymnasts: Mark Van Den Avont, Sr.; Joseph Samperi, Sr.; Endri Shkembi, Sr.; Ronan Collins, Sr.; Oskar Bosak, Jr.; Evan Johnson, Jr.; Jonah Bouvier,Jr.; Colton Rivard, Jr.; Cameron Kasper, Jr.; Justin Loeung, Jr.; Niko Nikolich, Jr.; Colton Kamysz, Jr.; Zack Engstrom, Jr.; Alex Majvrcak, Jr.; Damian Charczuk, Jr.; Matt Byrne, Jr.
Outlook: Hersey had a terrific season last year, with the Huskies just missing out on the state finals. But graduation took a toll on the squad, which looks to regain momentum behind Urban and Bednar.
ProspectCoach: Julian Basler
Lost from last season: Kevin Dukes, Dongyoung Kim, Dylan Kowatsch, Daniel Starr, Adan Vivero, Hasibullah Nabi
Returning gymnasts: Nathan Lungu, Jr., AA; Jack D'Onofrio, Jr., AA; Matthew Donzelli, Soph., AA; Michale Murphy, Jr., AA.
New gymnasts: Matthew Guzzarde, JR., FX V; Alex Matusak, Jr. FX, V, PB, HB, SR.; Maximo Garcia, Soph., AA; Joseph Mare, Soph., AA; John Sabrina, Soph., AA.
Outlook: In his second season, Basler is building from the ground up. He will be coaching a team that does not have any seniors - but expectations are still high thanks to D'Onfrio, Donzelli and Lungu.
Rolling MeadowsCoach: Michael Costa
Lost from last season: David Majorowski.
Returning gymnasts: Ben Kowolski, Soph., AA; Ricardo Pinchon, Jr., AA; AJ Deering, Sr., AA
New gymnasts: Ryan Rettig, Jr., AA; Colin Priller, Jr. AA
Outlook: The Mustangs are on the rebound thanks to Kowolski and the 24 other gymnasts on team this year. Costa likes the direction his team is going. "We are in a transition this year," Costa said. "We have a lot of new member to varsity that have a lot of skill development to work on. But the boys are diligent and working hard to improve their skills."
MID-SUBURBAN WESTBarringtonCoach: Rob DeFano
Lost from last season: Jeremiah Griffin, Camron Hardegee
Returning gymnasts: Daniel Schnura, Sr., AA; Joseph Vitacco, Sr., PB; Evan Weisman, Sr., FX, V, HB; Braden Detelich, Jr., FX, V.; Resse Axtman, Sr. HB, PB, V, SR.
New gymnasts: Jareamiah Griffin, Jr. V, SR; Alexander Kim, Soph., SR, PB, FX; Jack Skyta, Jr., FX; Westin Stearns, Soph, PH; Matt Dai, Sr. PH.
Outlook: The Broncos suffered a setback when Hardegee, who was 26th in the state last year in the all-around as a freshman, did not come out this year. That leaves the Broncos thinner than they had hoped for this season.
ConantCoach: Mike Opsal
Lost from last season: Michael Yim, Lawrence Torres, Sam Barajas, Anthony Liacone.
Returning gymnasts: Parth Patel, Sr., AA, Cole Aykroid, Sr. FX,V, SR, PB, HB; Jose Gonzalez , Sr., FX, V; Noah Davis, Sr., FX,SR,V,HB; Artis Hudson, Sr., FX, V; Kevin Lorenz, Sr., SR,PB,HB; Moksh Jani, Sr., PH, SR, V; Sam Chernick, Sr., PH; Asuka Matsuno, Sr., PH; Jarad Prill, Jr., PH, SR.
New gymnasts: Niko Gigovski, Jr., AA; Keyan Mayginnes, Jr., V,PB,HB; Jesse Meyrick, Soph., FX,V,HB
Outlook: Opsal has a solid group of specialists that should be on the rise this season. The Cougars have plenty of depth and are looking to break out. "This team is working hard," Opsal said. "They will continue to work hard as they can and try to constantly improve as the season goes on."
FremdCoach: Tim Hamman
Lost from last season: Daniel Classon, Cole Patton, Chase Jauch
Returning gymnasts: Eric Barnd, Sr., AA; Ryan Roth, Sr., AA; Ethan Cho, Sr., AA; Nick Oyasu, Sr., AA.
New gymnasts: Jack McDermott, Sr.; Eric Han, Jr.
Outlook: Two seasons ago, the Vikings finished seventh in the state. That experienced paid huge dividends as they jumped up to third and took home the school's first boys gym trophy last spring. Hamman feels his team can be in contention again. With a senior-laden lineup that features all-arounders Barnd, who was 10th in the state last year along with Roth, Cho and Oyasu, the Vikes hope to return to state. "This is the final year for a strong group of seniors that have been the most successful in Fremd boys gymnastics history," Hamman said.
Hoffman EstatesCoach: Ryan B. Brown
Lost from last season: Connor Sauceda, Jeet Raol, Ryan Santiago, Juan Pablo Rios, Jack Rogers
Returning gymnasts: William Fernandez, Sr., AA; Peter Rivera, Sr.,PH,PB; Dawid Byrgiel, Sr., SR, HB; Sam Gomez, Sr., AA.
New gymnasts: Tre'Wan Collins, Sr.,SR; John Ray Cuartero ,AA; Sebastian Rivera-Chepetla, Soph., PH,SR PB; Alex Collier, Fresh., FX,V,PB.
Outlook: The Hawks were young last season and Brown hopes that year of growth will carry them this year. It is a senior-dominated squad. "Our strength from last year came from younger athletes," Brown said. "They are back this season - stronger, and ready to compete."
PalatineCoach: Scott Hagel
Lost from last year: Jack Hallier, Brett Limberg, Brian Pazdioch, Ethan Sciuckas, Matt Wang
Returning gymnasts: Prakash Nigam, Sr.; AA; Harrison Mathias, Sr., AA; Joseph Zhao, Sr., AA; Brian Gaytan, Jr., AA; Chris Lunsford, Jr., AA.
New gymnasts: Jack Benzo,Sr., PH; Trevor Hallier, Sr., FX, SR, V, PB, HB; A.J. Krambeer, Fresh., AA; Nick Vlha, Jr., SR.
Outlook: Palatine was fourth in the state last year, and the Pirates have their eyes set on the big prize in 2017. Palatine looks solid with Nigam, who was third in the state in the all-around and Lunsford, who was 16th, leading the way. The Pirates have some solid depth and a nice mix of specialists. "This is a very solid group," Hagel said. "They have been there before and because of that, their goals are set very high this season."
SchaumburgCoach: Erik Bostrom
Lost from last season: A.J. Hardin, Hazen Rice, Alejandro Hernandez, Marco Abundiz, Dylan Mitchell, Anthony Gershman, Tony Orlando, Kody Scott, Shane Donovan
Returning gymnasts: Chasen Chau,Sr.,AA; Sam Grzeszkowiak, Sr., FX; Roshan Jamkatel,Sr., PH,HB; Brendan Warzynski, Jr., PH.
New gymnasts: Dylan Ostergreen,Sr., FX, SR, V; Ethan Vanderbleek, Sr., PH, SR, V, PB, HB; Sean Kraemer, Jr., PB, HB; Brandon Nyborg, Fresh., AA.
Outlook: The Saxons made it to state for the second year in a row last season, moving from their eigth-place finish up to fifth last year. Bostrom lost the core of that team, but still returns Chau, who was fifth in the state last year in the all-around. "State is in our scope again this year," Bostrom said. "We hope to be in contention. We are also hoping to place well in our various invites and conference meets."
WEST SUBURBAN GOLDLeydenCoach: Bill Cordts
Lost from last season: Fabian Marquez
Returning gymnasts: Gabriel Bahena, Jr., AA; Kevin Anderson, Sr., AA
New gymnasts: Firas Harb, Jr, AA; Alex Muniz, Jr., AA; Steve Ariza, Soph, AA; Matthew Blasinski, Soph., AA
Outlook: Cordts is back at the helm for the Eagles, who are hoping to make some noise in the West Suburban Gold. Bahena heads up a small, but hard working group of all-arounders.