Scouting Tri-Cities girls gymnastics teams
Batavia
Coach: Taryn Boyce (6th year)
Last year: 1st place Independent Conference; 1st place Oswego regional; 1st place Glenbard West sectional; 8th place state finals.
Top returnees: Marissa Dransoff (Sr., beam), Danae Fuqua (Sr., all-around), Emma Gear (Jr., all-around).
Key newcomers: Sarah Ganster (Fr., all-around), Lilly Garcia (Fr., all-around), Mandy Stangl (Fr., all-around), Erin Sykstos (Fr., all-around), Jackie Hansen (Sr., bars), Melissa Van Ham (Sr., all-around).
Outlook: Batavia found itself in Palatine on Feb. 20 of this year for the state gymnastics finals. It capped off an historic season for the Bulldogs, who qualified for state for the first time in 18 seasons. While the memory of last winter will remain, the Bulldogs lost Rachel Besic (fourth place in the state in vault last year), Alessandra Bronzino and Becca Thone to graduation and will have to fill the void those three left. "We had a blast last season and I'm really proud to have been a part of that," Batavia coach Taryn Boyce said. "It's a new season but I think we should have a solid team." Danae Fuqua, who placed 22nd in the all-around at state last season, and Emma Gear, who was finished 12th in the state in the floor exercise back in February, will play large roles again for the Bulldogs. "We know that we lost a lot but everyone has a great attitude this year," Fuqua said. "We're having a lot of fun so far. Hopefully I can help take some of the stress away from the new girls and we can have another good season." After being a senior-laden team a season ago, the Bulldogs are going to need its freshmen class and a pair of "sort-of" newcomer seniors to set up. The two seniors, Melissa Van Ham and Jackie Hansen, competed as freshmen before turning in their tsuks and giants for cheerleading. The two are back this winter along with four freshmen, all which are capable of contributing as all-arounders if the need arises.
Geneva
Coach: Kim Hostman (11th year)
Last year: 3rd place Independent Conference; 3rd place Glenbard West regional.
Top returnees: Blythe Boyle (Jr., vault), Alycia Hostman (Jr., beam, vault), Kaitlyn Kanarowski (So., all-around), Emily Ott (Jr., beam, floor, vault), Cami Pfetzer (Sr., all-around).
Newcomers: Alexis Graham (So., bars, beam, floor), Delaney Wood (Fr., bars).
Outlook: After seeing its two fellow Tri-Cities teams advance to state in back-to-back years, Geneva might be wondering if this is the Vikings' year to make the leap to state. The Vikings may not be quite that ready this season, but they should have one of their finest teams in a long time. Geneva opened its season by scoring a 133.7 in a victory over Riverside-Brookfield. Last season they Vikings closed with a 134.85 in regional play, but they also lost Sonya Leonard and Shannon Vigna to graduation. "We're all working hard toward state," sophomore Kaitlyn Kanarowski said. "We've got a lot of new girls and we all like to hang out and have fun so this should be a very good season." One goal that's certainly within reach for the Vikings is the school scoring record of 136.9. "We haven't been within that range in a number of years but there's good potential here," Geneva coach Kim Hostman said. "We've got some depth and are working some new skills and expect a strong season." Cami Pfetzer, the team's lone senior, is a captain along with Emily Ott. After competing as a floor exercise specialist last season, Ott will be need to produce on beam and vault now. With Ott's responsibilities being extended and Kanarowski and Pfetzer competing in the all-around, the rest of the Vikings lineup will feature a mix and matching of a pair of returnees and newcomers.
St. Charles Co-op
Coach: Amy Lill (third year)
Last year: 1st place and undefeated in Upstate Eight Conference; 1st place Naperville Central regional; 4th place Glenbard West sectional.
Top returnees: Meredith Beird (Jr., bars, beam), Megan Brogan (Sr., bars, beam, floor), Stephanie de la Torriente (Sr., all-around), Kristin Sheehan (So., bars, vault).
Key newcomers: Kaylee Arnold (So., bars, floor, vault), Shelby leDuc (Sr., beam, floor, vault), Sidney Olson (Fr., bars), Andrea Schwartz (Fr., vault), Nicole Wendt (Jr., beam, floor, vault), Erin Wienrich (Fr., floor, vault), Kaitlyn Wilson (Sr., bars, vault).
Outlook: There were two big questions heading into the off-season for St. Charles Co-op coach Amy Lill. No. 1: Who is going to replace Danielle Goebbert? No. 2: Who is going to replace Liz Fairweather? Thanks to an outstanding turnout of newcomers, which includes freshmen and upperclassmen, as well as a solid returning group led by three-time state qualifier, Stephanie de la Torriente, the team has reloaded. "We've set the bar high and obviously want to go to state," Lill said. "It's going to take a lot of work from every single girl but we have 25 girls out there who are going to push each other so there's going to be a lot of competition for those top five spots." Because the team has so much depth, Lill will be able to assemble a diverse lineup that may or may not feature more than de la Torriente as an all-arounder. That could bode well for the team's chances of repeating as Upstate Eight champs and in making a serious state run. Shelby leDuc, who competed as a freshman before switching to cheerleading, is one of the team's prized newcomers, along with sophomore Kaylee Arnold and a handful of others. "We're fortunate to have a lot of talent to work with this year," Lill said. "I definitely didn't expect this turnout." St. Charles North boys gymnastics coach Tom Wirth is assisting Lill this winter while the soft-spoken de la Torriente will also be relied upon to be a leader. "She's really matured and taken on the leadership role," Lill said. "When you have 25 (gymnasts) you need to make sure everyone's doing what they should do and Stephanie's done a great job helping out."