Sarantakis, Fremd light up scoreboard

The Fremd gymnastic team may have a few girls limited by injuries, but the Vikings experienced no letdown.

On Saturday afternoon, the host Vikings secured a season- and state-best 150.10 en route to capturing the title at the Mari-Rae Sopper Invite in Palatine.

Sandburg finished a close second with 149.175, followed by Lyons (146.70), St. Charles Co-op (139.825) and Glenbrook South (135.64).

"A 150 is nice," said Fremd coach Jim Guest. "It's been a long time coming. The kids have really been working hard and it doesn't always show up in the scores - but today it did."

Senior Tori Sarantakis has been on fire to start the New Year. Last week the senior hit a career best 38.7 to take the all-around title at the Lincoln-Way East invite.

On Saturday, Sarantakis followed it up by winning the all-around with a 38.575. She took first on uneven bars (9.55), balance beam (9.575) and floor exercise (9.75). She finished fourth on vault (9.70).

"It's a great achievement," said Sarantakis of the team's high score. "We definitely came out tonight and did what we needed to do."

What made the victory even more impressive is that the Vikings hit the mark without being at full strength because of some nagging injuries.

But sophomore Alyssia VanDuch stepped in, taking fifth in the all-around (36.80). The sophomore took sixth on both the bars (9.15) and vault (9.60).

"I think it boosted our confidence," said VanDuch of the team's mark. "We've just been trying to be consistent and go out and do our best."

Vikings senior Sarah Torp added fourth places on both floor (9.525) and beam (9.373).

"We have girls stepping up and gaining experience, that's a big part," Torp said.

Junior Caitlin Golota, who was not at full strength, added a second place on bars (9.35) and sixth on beam (9.15).

Maegan Wochinski and Nicole Thiel, both battling injuries, tied for seventh on bars (9.10), and freshman Elizabeth Uhrich took sixth on floor (9.475).

"It was a collective effort," Guest said. "Everybody is stepping up and contributing."

Prospect invite

The Schaumburg girl's gymnastic team has made quite a leap this year. The Saxons took another step forward at the Prospect Invite.

Despite not having any individual winners, a young Schaumburg team took the title with 137.025 points, nipping Rolling Meadows (136.95).

Sophomore Caitlin Barrett took third on the bars (8.9) and fourth on the beam (9.25), with sophomore Brooke Shimon taking third on the floor (9.25).

"They've been working really hard and putting more difficulty into their routines," said Schaumburg coach Jami Stilling. "We figured they had nothing to lose tonight, they're stepping up and building confidence."

Rolling Meadows senior Jen Anderson took first in the all-around (37.10), including second on both beam (9.55) and floor (9.40). She added a fourth on vault (9.3) and fifth on bars (8.85).

"I hit all my events," Anderson said. "I've been adding some new skills and I've been hitting my routines. This definitely one of my top performances."

Elk Grove senior Kim Gulik hit a career best of 36.75 on all-around, including first on bars (9.0), second on vault (9.5) and fifth on both beam (9.05) and floor (9.2) to lead the Grenadiers to third place (135.95).

"It finally coming together," Gulik said. "Every other meet I've had one fall here or there, but I put it together tonight."

Prospect senior Emily Rossdeutcher was third in the all-around (36.10), including third on beam (9.3), fourth on floor (9.225) and fifth on vault (9.2). The Knights, who were without Katie Colmone, finished fourth (135.10).

"I'm really happy with how the night turned out," Rossdeutcher said. "I feel like I've really turned it around on the beam."

Buffalo Grove junior Linda Dunne won beam (9.6) and was third on vault (9.35) as the Bison took fifth (133.35).

"The beam I am very comfortable with now, maybe next year I'll add a few new wrinkles," Dunne said.

Wheeling's junior Amy Burke won vault (9.6) and floor (9.45), leading the Wildcats to sixth (119.80).

"I was really happy with my vault it was the first time I had the layout in there," Burke said. "It was mostly adrenaline."