Larkin-Elgin co-op tackles new campaign with youth
Larkin-Elgin girls gymnastics co-op coach Bob Todd has bucked the numbers trend.
Todd said 12 of 15 gymnasts that were eligible to return this season did not due to going out for other sports and nonathletic related commitments.
But Todd's squad welcomed 11 new gymnasts to the team this season and now sports a cache of young, but improving all-around performers.
"We've got 11 new girls, but they have been in clubs (gymnastics clubs) before," said Todd, in his 30th season at the helm (he is 3 years away from teaching retirement). "They have skills. This is an enthusiastic group. They have goals in terms of what they want to do in the gym. We have a lot of potential."
Larkin-Elgin had some encouraging early-season news with a second-place finish at the Wheeling invitational. The team also participated in a specialty invite at Rolling Meadows that included some of the state's top teams.
Todd has been especially impressed with Elgin sophomore Ashley Horne, who is a Level 9 gymnast.
Horne was first on bars, beam, floor and the all-around at Wheeling and took fifth on bars. She was also fifth on bars at Rolling Meadows and was third in the all-around and on floor in a triangular with St. Charles co-op and Waubonsie Valley earlier this week.
"Ashley will be a good one," said Todd. "She could end up being one of the top three kids I've ever had here."
Other key contributors for Larkin-Elgin include juniors Kelsey Lodge (Larkin, all-around), Brianne Skweres (vault) and freshmen Breanna Ghostone (Larkin, all-around), Katie Plantz (Larkin, all-around), Megan Schwab (Elgin, all-around) and Hannah Szafranski (Elgin, all-around).
"We're young, that's what is nice," said Todd. "The nice thing is we have seven all-arounders fighting for five spots at each meet. There is a lot more challenging going on in practice. That will help us as the year goes on. "
Larkin will host its annual invitational Jan. 3. Todd said 16 teams are slated to compete.
South Elgin-Bartlett-Streamwood: The South Elgin-Bartlett-Streamwood co-op team is now under the direction of former St. Charles High School standout Amy August, who later competed at UIC.
August's squad opened the season earlier this week against Barrington and 2008 state champion Fremd.
"For a first meet, we didn't necessarily score where we hope to be by the end of the season," said August. "But we got a lot of positive feedback from the judges."
Bartlett's Taeopae Wetterman went 33.4 in the all-around in the season-opener, while South Elgin junior Emily Potts scored a 33.0. Wetterman's strongest event is bards, while Potts excels on vault.
Bartlett junior Jennifer McGinnis, one of the team captains, competes on vault and bars and South Elgin junior Kristell Westbrook is an all-around performer, whose strongest events are vault and bars.
"Our goal for the season is to break 140," said August. "We think that is definitely within our grasp. We need to work on hitting our routines under pressure and making connections."
District 155 co-op: The District 155 co-op team, comprised of gymnasts from Crystal Lake South, Crystal Lake Central, Prairie Ridge and Cary-Grove, will field a full team this season after only having individuals compete last year.
Longtime coach Lee Battaglia returns senior Mary Grier (Prairie Ridge, all-around) and sophomore Jenny Covers (Prairie Ridge, all-around).
Seniors Erin Guthrie (Prairie Ridge), Haley Hader (Prairie Ridge), sophomores Molly Sandquist (Cary-Grove), Taylor Weber (Cary-Grove) and Heather Kill (Prairie Ridge), along with freshman Jenny Parker (Prairie Ridge) are also all-around competitors for District 155.
"This year is quite a bit different," said Battaglia. "We've got 14 kids on the team. That's the most we've had since I've been here. Out of the whole group, 95 percent of them train year-round. That's definitely a strength. They have all gotten quite a bit better."
Covers went over 36 in the all-around in the team's first meet at Neuqua Valley.
"The rest are right there," said Battaglia, who also operates the Crystal Lake Gymnastics club. "We could have three all-arounders who are 36-plus."
Battaglia said the team has its sights set on a possible state berth.
"We went Downstate 6-7 years ago and we would like to do the same this year," said Battaglia. "If it's anything less than that, we will probably fall a little bit short of our goal. We'd like to get to state as a team. We have the potential to be a strong team if we can stay healthy."