Glenbard West, Hinsdale Central know each other well
There's no doubt that Glenbard West and Hinsdale Central know each other quite well.
When the two teams came up short against Lyons Twp. in the West Suburban Conference Silver Division meet last Saturday, it was the eighth time in the past two seasons that the two dominant teams battled against one another.
Last year the Hilltoppers only upended the Red Devils during the Naperville North Invite, falling in the dual meet, York Invite and conference meet. This season the Hilltoppers have beaten the Red Devils on three occasions, only coming up short, 141.1-140.7 at the Naperville North Invite.
Going head-to-head has benefitted both teams again this season.
"Knowing (Hinsdale Central) made it to state last year and knowing they have that experience, you want to see how you rate against a team like that," Hilltoppers coach Carlos Fuentes said. "They're always going to prepare for us. We often joke about how tough the conference is, but it makes us all better."
"We see Lyons and Glenbard West a few times during the season, which is good for us because of good competition," Red Devils coach Kim Estoque said. "You go to a meet and know it's going to be tough and the girls know they have to work harder."
The West Suburban Silver has been one of the premier gymnastics conferences in the state, especially during the past several years. The conference has sent five teams to the state finals in the past five years, including Lyons and Hinsdale Central last season.
"We're putting in a lot of time in practice because we want to go to state so badly," said Glenbard West gymnast Becky Mladucky. "We're going to keep on trying to do our best on all events and see where that takes us."
The Hilltoppers have good reason to believe that it'll take them to Palatine for the first time since 2005.
Unpredictable Valley: The path that the Neuqua Valley program has taken to get where it is today has been anything but boring and predictable.
Before the season started there were all kinds of questions. Who would replace coach Mike Kaplan and become the third head coach in the past four years? Would Bryn Walsh remain dedicated solely to club gymnastics or return to the team for her senior season? Would fellow seniors Ashley Nelson, Catherine Miller and Aisha Jones happily come back and play for another new head coach? Would any club gymnasts decide to join the team this year and make an impact immediately?
Christine Clark returned to take over the coaching position. She last coached the Wildcats in 2003.
"She coached my sister (Allison) when she went to school here, so I knew a lot about her," Nelson said. "Once we met her we all loved her and with her experience as a gymnast it's been a real confidence booster."
Aware that it was her final chance to make her mark in high school gymnastics, Walsh returned to the team this season.
"I wanted to concentrate on club last year, but it's senior year and I wanted to have fun," Walsh said. "I really enjoy the team-building aspect of high school gymnastics and nearly half our team is seniors."
Jones, Nelson and Miller all returned this winter and have been key to the team's success. Jones has remained healthy and succeeded as a specialist while Nelson and Miller have been key all-arounders.
"Our practices have gotten better and better all season," Miller said. "We're doing the best that we can. We've started to see good results from all the hard work."
The surprise acquisition for the Wildcats is junior Morgan Knight, a club gymnast, who made her Neuqua Valley debut this season. Knight has been a major contributor to the Wildcats success, and recently posted the fifth best all-around score in the Neuqua Valley Invite on Jan. 16, took second on bars in the UEC on Jan. 29 and won vault in the Geneva regional on Monday. In addition the Wildcats have received solid contributions from sophomore Riley Wypiszenski.
The Wildcats appear to be peaking at just the right time and hope to be one of the eight teams in the state that competes for a state title in Palatine on Feb. 19-20. They last appeared in the state finals in 2006 when they took seventh place. Miller has the most postseason experience for Neuqua Valley, advancing as an individual on beam as a freshman and on bars as a junior.
The Valley girl: When the attendance boundaries were established for Indian Prairie Unit District 204 with the opening of Metea Valley High School, Neuqua Valley student-gymnast Maddie Strick learned that she'd be transferring to Metea Valley while her brother, a senior, would be able to finish his final year at Neuqua Valley.
Strick is one of the top gymnasts this season for the Waubonsie Valley/Metea Valley co-op team. Neither Waubonsie Valley nor Metea Valley have a gymnastics facility on site, so Strick is still at Neuqua Valley several times a week for practices and meets.
"It really hasn't been that big of a deal," Strick said. "We cheer each other on whenever we're at practice and the meets. It's just that I'm on a different team."
It's West Chicago: Some people have become confused by the fact that both Wheaton Warrenville South and Wheaton North co-op have gymnastics teams. West Chicago is the other school that has joined with Wheaton North for a co-op. Interestingly enough, West Chicago only has one gymnast this winter, Kristina Terry, but she's also the leading gymnast for Wheaton North co-op.
"She was awarded the 'Athlete of the Week' at West Chicago and was the first-ever girls gymnast to receive that at the school, so we must be doing something right," quipped Wheaton North coach Lee Wood. "Maybe because of her success some other (West Chicago) girls will show some interest and come out next year."
Vaulting to track: Glenbard South junior Ashley Ellis likely finished her gymnastics season during Monday's Geneva regional. Ellis finished with an all-around total of 31.450 for eighth place.
While Punxsutawney Phil tells us that we should expect six more weeks of winter, Ellis is turning her attention over to track. Ellis was a part of last year's 400-meter relay team that finished second in the Class 2A finals. With everyone except for Libby O'Brien expected back this year, Ellis hopes The Raiders will be the team to beat this spring, and she hopes to contribute to the 800 and 1,600 relay teams and as a pole vaulter as well.
"Things went well for me this year after missing my sophomore season because of an injury," Ellis said. "It's kind of bittersweet for the season to be over knowing next year will be my last year. But I'm hoping to get a track scholarship, and I've been working out everyday, so now I'll turn my full attention to track."
Ellis isn't the only Raider who will transition into track. Sophomore Melissa Nelson is also a pole vaulter.
"Our goal is to clear 10 feet this year," Ellis said, "and to hopefully go to state."
Can't stay away: The most successful high school gymnastics coach last season was recently spotted at Neuqua Valley. Edsel Clark was at the helm last February when the Glenbard North girls took third and in May when the boys won the Panthers first state gymnastics title since 1992.
Clark accepted an assistant principal position at the new Metea Valley High School. While that has kept him away from coaching, it hasn't completely taken him away from the sport this winter as his wife, Christine, returned this season to coach Neuqua Valley.
Clark joked about the similarities between disciplining high school students and the difficulties of staying on the balance beam while also keeping a watchful eye on his two young daughters as well as trying to watch several gymnasts compete.
"I don't know which is more difficult," Clark said with a laugh.
Clark was able to find some time earlier this season to attend a Glenbard North meet and see some of his standouts from last season, including Amber Fox and Christina Rini. While he'll certainly be rooting for them during the state series, he remained diplomatic when asked about the friendly rivalry between Waubonsie Valley/Metea Valley co-op and Neuqua Valley, who share the same gym.
"I'm not wearing either team's colors," he said.
Leaving the Lancers: When coach Keith Matune took over the Lake Park girls gymnastics team, one of his biggest tasks was to build the program and to get high school girls interested in the sport. Now, five years later, Matune is finishing his final season as the head coach of a Lake Park program that's already enjoyed some success and has a foundation in place to have outstanding teams for the next few years and perhaps longer.
Matune will remain head coach of the boys, but with two sons under the age of 6 and a double bundle of joy in twins expected at the end of May, Matune knew the time was right to free up a little time from an already extremely busy schedule.
"Family is most important and always comes first, and I walk away with no regrets," Matune said. "I want to be able to go see my kids at their meets and to see them evolve."
Lake Park athletic director Peter Schauer ultimately will decide upon a new coach, and Matune is hopeful that assistants Katie Schultz and Gina Venditti are both given strong consideration.
"We've created the kind of program here where, regardless of skill level, everyone has something to offer the team," Matune said. "Around the time I took over I walked into practice and there were only six girls in there. We're averaging 35 girls a season now. The coaches have really helped the program evolve, and hopefully that can continue."
Whoever replaces Matune is going to inherit quite the squad for at least the next three seasons. While the Lancers will lose standout Ashley Nelson to graduation this year, five freshmen and a sophomore received plenty of experience this season and should be back to lead a revamped Upstate Eight Conference with Geneva and Batavia added to the mix.
The Lancers finished in fifth place in the ultracompetitive UEC with a 138.225. Their score was good enough to win the Central Suburban League North Division, West Suburban Gold and to take second in the DuPage Valley Conference, among others.
"Whoever will take over will have an excellent program," Matune said. "Definitely more than what was here when I started."
Always adorned in dress shirt and tie, Matune isn't the only familiar coach stepping down at the end of the season. Sandburg/Stagg co-op coach Mike White is retiring after a 25-year career. Each season at least one parent in the bleachers remarks, "Who is that loud old guy jumping up and down in the shorts?"
The always enthusiastic and animated White has coached his team in many area invites over the years, including those hosted at Downers Grove North at the beginning of the regular season and at York just before the conference finals and state series.