Grens' Gulik shows grit and potential
Elk Grove senior Kim Gulik has started the season on a roll for the Grenadiers' girls gymnastic squad.
Gulik was a state qualifier on the vault in 2007, and last season she qualified for state on uneven bars.
This season Gulik is hoping to put it all together.
"She has a lot of natural talent," said Grens coach Heather DeCook. "Vault and bars are definitely her two best events. But if she could improve her difficulty and her tumbling a little bit, she would be a lot more competitive in the all-around."
Gulik worked on tumbling skills on both the balance beam and floor exercise and is hoping it pays off this season.
"Beam and floor are kind of weak," Gulik said. But as long as I stay clean, stay tight and stay on the beam - hopefully I'll qualify for all-around."
Gulik flashed that potential and showed a bit of experience in Tuesday night's dual meet against Prospect.
Gulik started by taking first with a career best on vault (9.56), but she had a fall on the bars that left her with a low mark.
The senior showed some grit by coming back to take second with a career best on the beam (9.1), and also taking second on floor (9.0).
"It was just a freak thing," said Gulik of her fall on the bars. "I realized I had half the meet left - and I wanted to finish strong."
Gulik is also excited about the team's potential. Junior Christine Baldovin, a sectional qualifier, and Laney Bernatz will aid the Grens.
"We've been together for three years," Gulik said. "The team is ready to finally come together."
The same could be said for Gulik.
Sarantakis, Fremd coming into focus: Senior Tori Sarantakis and the Fremd gymnastic squad are focusing on another strong run this season. The Vikings are two-time defending state champions - and there has been no letup.
Sarantakis (9.28) and junior Caitlin Golota (9.01) went 1-2 in the all-around to help lead Fremd to the Big Purple Invite title Saturday at Downers Grove North.
The Vikings followed it up by scoring one of the top marks of the season - 148.45 - in their triangular victory over Barrington and Bartlett on Tuesday night.
"We're in a good place right now," said Sarantakis, who swept all four events to winn the all around with a career-best 38.65. "I know there is just so much more to prove and work for. I'm just trying to stay focused."
"She seems more driven," said Fremd coach Jim Guest. "She has stepped it up to another level."
Shimon on road to recovery: Schaumburg's Brooke Shimon, coming back from surgery on both elbows, took a step in the right direction at Saturdays Rolling Meadows Invite.
"She had elbow pain last year, but she pushed through it," said Schaumburg coach Jami Stilling.
Shimon had her first surgery in March, followed by another in October.
Shimon missed qualifying for state on the beam by .025, but the sophomore hit her routine Saturday and scored a 9.4 to take first place.
"I actually hit," said Shimon of her flawless aerial. "Usually I have a wobble and that's when I get my deductions. This time I went for it and hit it."
Shimon is not back to full strength, but Stillings expects the sophomore to be performing all of her skills after winter break.
Shimon and the Saxons compete in the Conant invitational, which starts at noon Saturday.
Flips and flops: Hersey hosts an invite Saturday at 1 p.m. Buffalo Grove is in the 12-team field. - Barrington scored 140.25 points at Fremd on Tuesday with Laura Sculley leading the Fillies. Sculley finished third in the all-around (37.6) and took second on the floor (9.25) and vault (9.6). The senior is excited about the Fillies' potential. "We're a very young team, but we're really good," Sculley said. ... Things should become a bit clearer in the MSL East Division on Tuesday when defending division champion Prospect and challenger Buffalo Grove meet in a triangular meet at Wheeling.