Fremd, Barrington show their mettle

With the regular season coming to close Wednesday, Fremd and Barrington showed they could each be a force to be reckoned with in the girls gymnastics postseason.

Both teams came away with their top scores of the season with Fremd edging Barrington 144.45 to 143.20 at Fremd in Palatine. The teams will meet again next Wednesday at the Mid-Suburban League conference meet at Barrington.

"This is good timing," Fremd coach Kacey Kronforst said. "We have been working hard all season and hoping to peak at the right time. We want to make sure we are ready because starting next week everything really begins. I think we are on the right track and keep going up from there."

It was Senior Night at Fremd and the Vikings got big performances from two of their seniors. Katie Vessell had the top score in the all-around with a 35.70 while Sam Shirmer posted a 9.50 to win the bars.

"Something is clicking for me with bars this year," Shirmer said. "It is fun. It is becoming my new favorite event. I don't know why, but it is just working out well for me."

The Vikings also had big nights from a pair of their freshmen. Abigail Gallicho was third in the all-around with a 35.30 while Kacey Tokunaga won the beam with a 9.50.

"I was really happy," said Tokunaga, who tied for second on the floor with a 9.40.

"I was trying to be confident on the beam and do my best for the team. I spent a lot of time on the beam perfecting my skills. I tried to rise to the occasion of anchoring the beam and it worked."

"We had a good meet," Barrington coach Jason Loeffler said. "You don't want to peak midseason. We are looking to keep climbing that ladder. That is where I feel we are going, We just need to put it all together for one meet."

The Fillies were stunning on the floor, where the team posted a 37.45. They were led by freshman Ellie Marquis, who performed without her music when it malfunctioned during her routine.

"It was fun," said Marquis, who scored a 9.45. "I love the music because it gets me going. My teammates told me that no mater what, that I should keep a big smile and keep going because you have to have poise."

The Fillies also got a 9.40 from Alana Riemenschneider and 9.30 each for Sofia Rosenzweig and Jade Moranetz.

Brook Husby also took top honors for the Fillies on the vault when she scored a 9.50. Husby said that a long drink of water before she vaulted was the key for her.

"I was pretty excited," Husby said. "I drank a lot of water because I didn't want to cramp up. I also visualized before I went and that helped as well."

Wheeling also performed at the meet. The Wildcats opted to have most of their competitors participate on the JV and freshman level. Jada Starks had the Wildcats' only points with a 19.90.