Girls gymnastics: Scouting the MSL meet
Scouting the MSL meet
When: 6 p.m. Wednesday at Elk Grove
The skinny: Fremd is the team favorite and will be seeking its 24th Mid-Suburban League title. Palatine and defending MSL champion Conant will challenge. Individually the field is wide open, with a mix of experience and youth. Keep an eye on Hoffman Estates sophomore Karli Ryan, who has made a big splash this season.
Team talk: Fremd hit a season-high 142.75 on Jan. 13 at its own invite and has not been below the 140 mark since early December. The faces that dot the Vikings' roster are pretty much the same as the ones that earned the program second-place finish last year. Senior Melanie Ng, junior Gianna Christodoulopoulos and sophomore Sam Shirmer have anchored this year's effort, and senior Abby Moran seems to finding her rhythm after missing almost all of December. The MSL West Division champions are now looking to continue their successful run. Palatine has also had a pretty nice run. The Pirates hit their season-high score of 142.20 on Dec. 13. Senior Abby Amato has helped elevate the team, which has also gotten a big boost from talented freshman Alyssa Eckels. Keep an eye on the Pirates' bars - the team put on quite a display (37.05) on Tuesday, Jan. 16. Conant, the defending MSL champion, sports the conference's top score of 143.30, from Dec. 13. Injuries slowed down Conant's attack in early January, including a key one to sophomore Julia Betts. But Betts has returned and the Cougars seem to be back in gear after hitting a 140.675 at the York Invitational last Saturday. Sophomore Kennedy O'Connor has elevated her performance this year, and senior Bailey Bloom has been very steady in anchoring the Cougars' array of talent. A young Barrington squad also seems to be peaking the right time, recently producing its season-best mark of 137.95. MSL East champion Prospect, Buffalo Grove, and Hoffman Estates have also shown plenty of potential this season.
Sophomore sensation: Hoffman Estates coach David Calisch says sophomore Karli Ryan has been a game-changer. Ryan, in her first season with the Hawks, has been flirting with the 137-mark in the all-around and has probably been the most consistent all-arounder in the MSL this season. The MSL meet offers a perfect launching pad for her postseason.
Senior sendoff: Hersey senior Mackenzie Kamysz headlines a group of seniors that will be looking to leave its mark in the coming weeks. Kamysz is a three-time state qualifier on beam and tied for third in the all-around at the MSL meet last season. The Huskies senior should be in contention for all-around title on Wednesday. Fremd senior Melanie Ng and Palatine senior Abby Amato both are returning state qualifiers and have not disappointed this season in leading their respective teams. Conant senior Bailey Bloom secured a fifth-place state medal on beam last season in aiding the Cougars' state-qualifying run. She started a bit slowly this season but has picked up the pace. Schaumburg senior Mikayla Vogt will also be a factor; she had pretty special MSL meet last season taking first on the beam.
Breakout seasons: Fremd junior Gianna Christodoulopoulos and Conant sophomore Kennedy O'Connor both were regular contributors last year, but both have picked it up a notch this season. Christodoulopoulos ended the regular season with her two best marks in the all-around, while O'Connor gave Conant a big lift at the York Invitational last Saturday by securing her second best all-around mark of the season (36.625). Barrington sophomore Lauren Tenbrunsel has rebounded from an injury-plagued freshman season to set the tone for the Fillies this season.
Sudden impact: Prospect freshman Olivia Tader hit a season high in the all-around (36.40) last Thursday to help Prospect nail down the MSL East title, while Palatine freshman Alyssa Eckels has given the Pirates a nice jolt, including a hitting a season high (36.30) in the all-around on Jan. 11. The future looks bright for duo.
Raising the bar: Rolling Meadows Nicole Kane was a state qualifier on bars and also finished second on bars at the MSL conference meet as a freshman, this year the Mustangs sophomore suffered a fractured left fibula on Dec. 4, and the idea of competing again in the current season did not look promising. But that didn't stop Kane, she returned to limited action on Jan. 13 at the Prospect Invitational taking third on the bars (9.15).
What they're saying: "Yes, I believe our team is definitely back on track. Having Julia Betts back in our lineup adds depth that we have been missing for the majority of the season," said Conant coach Anthony Avella.
"We're at full strength and we're ready go," said Palatine coach Terry Theobald. "I definitely think last year's experience has helped the girls prepare for this season. We've always had great leaders on this team, but what I love to see is that so many of girls are stepping up to lead the team in different ways," said Fremd coach Kacey Kronforst.
- Michael Eaken