Fremd's Burke gearing up for big finish
It's the beginning of the end for Fremd and senior star Mary Burke.
Burke has accomplished quite a bit during her career in leading the Vikings to state titles in 2005 and 2007.
Now Burke and the Vikings are gearing up for one last run for glory.
Burke swept all four events, winning the all around with 39.025, leading host Fremd to the regional title with 149.125 points Tuesday in Palatine.
An up-and-coming Hersey team secured second with 132.2 points.
Burke dazzled the home crowd for one last time, with the Missouri-bound senior taking first on the floor (9.775), beam (9.725), vault (9.9), and bars (9.625).
"It definitely has gone by so much faster than I expected," said Burke of her four years at Fremd. "It being my senior season I want to go out on a high note.
"It being the post season it's the time we're supposed to have everything together. I think we definitely do, we just need to fix a few things here and there."
Junior Tori Sarantakis gave Fremd a powerful 1-2 punch by taking second in the all-around with 38.150. Sarantakis added second-place finishes on the floor (9.755), beam (9.45), vault (9.725) and bars (9.35) to complement Burke.
"We're slowly but surely getting to that place where we want to be for state," added Sarantakis of the Vikings performance. "Trying to eliminate the falls and just continue to keep getting better."
Sophomore Cailtin Golota took fourth in the all-around (35.125), highlighted by a third-place finish on the beam (8.75) for the Vikings. Senior Eliza Grosshauser took third on the vault (9.45) and floor (9.20) for Fremd.
Next up for the defending state champions is a date at the Schaumburg sectional on Monday.
"We had a much more veteran team last year," added Fremd coach Jim Guest of his team which had three freshmen contribute on Tuesday. "This year we're a bit younger, but our one constant has been our two seniors Mary (Burke) and Eliza (Grosshauser)."
Freshman Katie Dewar took third in the all-around (35.575) to lead Hersey. Dewar placed third on the bars (8.9) and fourth on the floor (9.175).
"She's had a successful season and she put it together at the right time," said Hersey coach Mason Vernon, who was impressed with her sixth-place finish on the vault (8.775). "She's been struggling with that all year and she pulled it out, it's a big accomplishment."
Sophomore Kate Reszotko (32.575) and senior Monica Stryczula (32.45) took fifth and sixth in the all-around for the Huskies.