Scouting the Mid-Suburban League boys gymnastics meet
Where: Fremd High School
When: Friday, 6 p.m.
2009 results: Palatine (156.05), Prospect (147.70), Conant (143.65), Fremd (140.25), Elk Grove (138.40), Rolling Meadows (133.95), Hoffman Estates (125.05), Buffalo Grove (123.75), Schaumburg 121.45), Barrington (110.75), Hersey (110.55)
2010 Favorite: Conant
MSL West standings: Conant 4-0, Fremd 4-1, Palatine 3-2, Schaumburg 2-3, Hoffman Estates 1-4, Barrington 0-5. High score: Conant (159.95 at Schaumburg).
MSL East standings: Elk Grove 4-0, Buffalo Grove 3-1, Prospect 2-2, Rolling Meadows 1-3, Hersey 0-4. High score: Prospect (139.40 against Rolling Meadows).
Returning individual champs: Rolling Meadows senior John Scallon won the pommel horse with a score of 9.4 last year while Fremd senior Brandon Trostrud won the parallel bars with a 9.1.
Scallon hit a 9.8 at the District 214 meet last Friday while Trostrud has scored a 9.4 this spring.
Top returning all-arounder: As a sophomore last year, Conant junior Steve Rink finished third (49.75) behind seniors Andre Gatorano of Palatine (52.55) and Joe Napoleon of Prospect (50.05).
Defending champion: Palatine has won the last four MSL titles since Pat Kivland's Prospect Knights won in 2005. But can the Pirates pull off a fifth straight?
"I don't think anyone can come to within 5 points of Conant," said Pirates coach Scott Hagel. "Fremd and us have been scoring in the mid 140s. And BG has been getting some scores in the low 140s. It should be real interesting to see who wins the East side. We have been kind of back and forth with Fremd."
The hosts: Fremd is hosting the MSL meet for the first time since 2000. Coach Tim Hamman would love to see his Vikings put up a strong finish after placing second to Conant in the MSL West dual meet standings. "Conant is the favorite - they have been consistently solid all season," Hamman said. "I think it's pretty interesting between us and Palatine and it's going to be a great conference meet. I think it's going to be some great gymnastics and hopefully we'll get a lot of people out to enjoy it."
MSL East hopefuls: Elk Grove won the MSL East with a 4-0 record but Buffalo Grove had the top score at the District 214 meet. The Bison won with a 141.35, followed by Prospect (141.0), Rolling Meadows (136.0), Elk Grove (135.7) and Hersey (131.3). Kyle Chamberlain of BG won the floor exercise with a 9.4. John Scallon of Rolling Meadows was tops on the pommel horse (9.8). Evans Reynolds of Hersey recorded the best score on the still rings with an 8.4 while Erik Balko of Buffalo Grove was first in the vault with a 9.4. Rolling Meadows' Marc Herff posted the top score on the parallel bars (9.35). Prospect's Jim Brault led the MSL East on the high bar with a 9.3 and the senior took third in the all-around (49.55) behind runner-up Herff (49.55).
Seeking the gold: Conant is looking to work on the little things in preparation for the state meet in two weeks. "This week, we're basically just fine-tuning everything," said Cougars coach Paul Kim. "I think we're in a good place. We evaluated all our routines to make sure we're getting all necessary start values. We should be able to do well." Kim said the Cougars are confident, coming off a victory in the District 211 meet when they scored a 156.8. "We're focusing on complete routines and trying to iron out all the little mistakes. Our mind set is to get ready for state. We know we can go 160, and that is our goal." At last Friday's 211 meet, the Cougars went 1-2-3 in the all-around with Anthony Crivolio (53.95), Joey Mauk (51.60) and Steve Rink (51.25). Palatine's Mike Abram (51.20) was next followed by teammate Damian Przystal (50.45).
Przystal won the floor exercise (9.30) while Rink earned top honors on the pommel horse. Crivolio took top honors on the still rings (9.00), vault (9.45) and high bar (9.15) while Mauk was the champ on the parallel bars (8.80). "We're not so much competing with other teams but more competing with ourselves," Kim said. "And making sure we can showcase what we are really capable of doing." The Cougars were 8-0 in dual meets this spring and won incite title at Niles West Addison Trail, Lake Park and Hoffman Estates (211 meet).