Fremd's 20th state trophy truly a team effort

Fremd has won 20 state girls gymnastics trophies - but perhaps none had as many obstacles as this year's third-place run.

The journey started last season when the Vikings finished fourth, a 10th of a point behind Glenbard North.

It picked up this season when Fremd lost three promising freshmen, depleting the team's depth.

And it continued at the state meet where the Vikings only advanced one gymnast in one event to Saturday's finals.

But it ended with Fremd finishing one-10th of a point ahead of Prairie Ridge co-op.

"It's really been a team effort, it's been very balanced from our first kid to our fifth kid," said Fremd coach Jim Guest.

"We only had one gymnast advance to finals, so we really did it as a team on Friday."

In the past, Fremd counted on all-around stars such as Tori Sarantakis, Mary Burke, Holly Reichard and Katie Burke. The Vikings had at least one gymnast finish in the top 10 for all-around every year since 1992.

The Vikings did not have that luxury this year, as senior Caitlin Golota finished 15th in the all-around.

But Golota, who battled back from a pair of ankle injuries, was a guiding light all season for the Vikings and she showed her determination by taking fifth on the uneven parallel bars.

"She did a lot of things behind the scenes to keep the team together," Guest said. "It was very gratifying for me to see her up on the podium. All the former gymnasts that I've had that stood on that podium flashed before my mind as she was standing there, and in years to come she will be part of that."

The little things helped the Vikings secure the trophy - such as junior Maegan Wochinski's performance on the vault (9.4), bars (9.35) and floor (9.275).

Sophomore Stephanie Uhrich added important points on the vault (9.375) and floor (9.225).

All those little things added up to one big performance.

Fremd freshmen eager to help: Stephanie Gallo, Anna Johnson, and Shannon Lemajeur were all hoping to have a major impact for Fremd this season, but after a string of unfortunate injuries the three freshmen became the Vikings' biggest supporters.

Gallo broke her elbow a week before the season started, Johnson broke her left talus bone on her first vault attempt at the opening dual meet of the season and Lemajeur tore the ACL in her right knee at the Fremd Invite in January.

"It made us all closer because we understood what each other were going through," said Lemajeur, who showed plenty of promise early in the season. "Even though we couldn't compete, we still felt a part of the team."

Emily Pinderski did compete, and the freshman hit an 8.875 at the state preliminaries on bars.

"There were a few bumps in the road this year, but we were able to keep rolling," Pinderski said.

The four freshmen are hoping to keep the Vikings' impressive tradition rolling as sophomores next season.

Schaumburg climb continues: Schaumburg reached new heights this season.

The Saxons hit a school-record 143.15 en route to taking second at the Mid-Suburban League meet, followed that feat by winning their first regional title since 1996 and then sent two gymnasts to the state meet.

Not bad for a team that started the season with two of its varsity members injured, including junior Brook Shimon, who was coming off a state appearance on floor last year.

"We've come really far considering how we started the season," said Shimon, who qualified for the state meet in all-around, floor exercise and bars.

"I think we all started clicking and everybody started hitting on each event."

Sophomore Ashley Miller won the MSL all-around title, qualified for state in the all-around and bars and became the first Saxon to advance to Saturday's state finals since 1995.

"Everyone knew what we had and we knew once we got healthy our team scores would start improving," Miller said.

Junior Caitlin Barrett and freshman Erin Barrett also contributed, and with everyone expected to return, the Saxons are looking to climb even higher next season.

"I think they are more focused than ever," said Saxons coach Jami Stilling, "They see their potential."

Final rotation: Buffalo Grove senior Linda Dunne, a four-year state qualifier, was honored by the Illinois High School Girls Gymnastics Coaches Association with the senior gymnast of the year award. "It has gone by so fast and the state experience has just been so exciting," Dunne said. ... Schaumburg coach Jami Stilling received the IHSGGCA coach of the year award. ... An ad-hoc committee has made a recommendation to the IHSA advisory board that Friday's state meet preliminaries be pared down to one session, with all four events running simultaneously. Saturday's state finals format would remain the same. A decision is expected in June.