Sarantakis' experience helps handle the pressure

Fremd gymnast Tori Sarantakis didn't quite start the Lake Park sectional the way she envisioned.

The senior had just completed her flip-flop layout series when she felt both feet slip off the balance beam, which resulted in a fall.

But Sarantakis regrouped by nailing her dismount to record a 9.025 for fourth place.

Sarantakis then finished the sectional by sweeping the final three events. The senior took first on the floor (9.7), vault (9.7), and bars (9.7), leading to a first-place finish in the all around (38.125) and propelling Fremd to the sectional title with 146.05 points.

"Uncharacteristic - it's been awhile," said Fremd coach Jim Guest of Sarantakis' fall on the beam. "But she's been a varsity athlete for four years and has been a state qualifier in the all-around for three years. That experience helped her. Obviously she drew on that."

Sarantakis is hoping to draw on that experience again at this year's state meet at Palatine High School. The first session begins at 12:30 p.m. today, followed by the second session at 6:30 p.m. Saturday's finals begin at 6:45 p.m.

Sarantakis enters the state meet with the second-best sectional all-around score. Sandburg's senior Krystyn Misheck has the top mark (38.575).

"Starting the meet off like that, there is no way you can let it affect you," said Sarantakis of the fall. "I knew once beam was over there was nothing I could do about it. If I wanted to qualify in the rest of the events I had to get down to business and focus."

And that is what the 5-foot senior sparkplug has been doing all season while leading Fremd to Mid-Suburban League, regional and sectional titles.

Last year, Fremd could count on Mary Burke, who swept all four individual state titles and added the state all-around while leading the Vikings to their third state championship in four years.

This year, Sarantakis took over the leadership reins - and there has not been a letdown.

"She has handled it really great," said junior Caitlin Golota of the transition between leaders. "She not only stepped up herself, but she has helped everybody else as well, which was a big thing with Mary (Burke) and Holly (Reichard). They were great leaders and Tori has stepped up to the plate."

Sarantakis showed that leadership at the MSL meet when, after a shaky performance by the Vikings on the beam, the senior responded with a 9.75 and followed it up with 9.6 on the floor.

Guest could see that in Sarantakis her freshman year when she cut her eyelid while peeling off the bars with a double back. She had no hesitation in attempting and competing with the double back at the next meet.

"She's very determined," added Guest. "It's a result of years of work she has put in. She has put a lot of effort into gymnastics and it shows."

That determination showed last year when Saranatakis sprained her left ankle just before the state meet. The then-junior did not back down, winning her first individual state medal with a third-place finish on beam (9.55) and placing sixth in the all-around to aid the Vikings' title quest.

"She's just really determined and persistent," said Vikings senior Sarah Torp. "She can put a bad event behind her and move on."

Sarantakis is definitely a person on the move. The senior is in constant motion at meets, stretching, flipping and dancing between events.

"I don't ever sit down," said Sarantakis, "I feel if I sit down and talk, I lose my concentration. When I stretch, do flip-flops; I'm really focusing - getting myself in the zone."

Sarantakis, who is considering attending Illinois State, is hoping to be in that zone this weekend at the state meet. Individually the senior enters the meet with the top sectional mark on the bars (9.7), second-best mark on the floor (9.7), and sixth-best mark on vault (9.7).

The senior will be in contention for the all-around title, which will be awarded tonight. But she is taking nothing for granted.

"You're never comfortable because you never know what can happen," added Sarantakis. "I just have to be as ready and prepared as possible."

Practicing this week before the state meet, Sarantakis was perfecting those skills beneath the record board containing the marks of previous Fremd stars.

The list included such illustrious names as Mary Ann Kelley, Katie Burke and Mary Burke, who all helped Fremd win 12 state gymnastics titles.

Add Sarantakis to that list. The senior's regional all-around mark of 38.875 places her fourth on the all-around record board.

"Tori always has had so much drive," said Fremd senior Jenny Rotter. "She knew from her first day she was going to be on that wall."

Sarantakis has not disappointed, picking up where the other Fremd stars have left off.

"Tori obviously had some big shoes to fill, there were some big footprints," said Guest of the Vikings' legacy. "She left a mark - I don't think you could have asked anyone to do any more than what she has done this year."

And Sarantakis is not quite finished.