Fremd wins Big Purple Invite
Mark down another few names to the list of Fremd gymnasts who have helped the Vikings win the Mike Williams Big Purple Invite.
That list is now longer than most children's wish lists for Santa Claus.
Sophomore Emily Pinderski won the bars with an 8.75 and freshman Christine Jensen took home the first-place medal on vault with a 9.25 to help Fremd edge Libertyville, 103.750 to 103.00. It was the 18th straight year Fremd has won the invite.
“We were very fortunate to end up on top,” Fremd coach Jim Guest said. “We really did a nice job on vault and floor and did enough on those other two events to get the highest score in the meet.”
Maegan Wochinski took second place in the all-around with a 33.85, Elizabeth Uhrich and Stephanie Gallo tied for third in the floor exercise with a 9.025 and Alyssia VanDuch tied for third on bars with an 8.275 to help Fremd keep its lengthy winning streak alive. Wochinski also won the floor exercise with a 9.2.
“It was nice to have the medals spread out among the team,” Guest said. “And it was great for Emily to be the bar champion and Christen as a freshman to be the vault champion.”
Leah Herchenbach did everything she could to keep Libertyville close, winning the all-around title with a 35.025. Teammate Jenna Dunsing was fourth with a 33.325 and Linsday Schweitzer took second on beam with an 8.925.
Naperville Central coach Glen Reimers expected the Redhawks to finish at around a 96, and they didn't disappoint, finishing in fifth place with a 95.550.
“I told them the only people we're going to compete against today is ourselves and to not worry about anyone else, and they really stepped it up and supported each other and did a great job,” Reimers said. “I've very happy. I think they did a very good job and we saw some good things.”
The Redhawks had their share of problems on vault but proved consistent on the remaining three events. Freshmen Grace Ellis and Logan Hassler made nice debuts. Ellis had the team's best performance on bars as did Hassler on beam, where she tied for third place with an 8.550. Logan's older sister, Kendall Hassler, led the Redhawks with an all-around total of 31.675.
Annie Johnson's 33.275 in the all-around helped Hersey claim seventh place with a 93.975. Naperville North followed with a 93.650.
Claire Ryan scored an 8.775 on vault, Hope Turner had a 7.675 on bars and senior Kate Noreen had the Huskies' top finish, earning seventh place in the floor exercise with an 8.7.
“This went OK. We started out on our weak events, which didn't help morale, but in the end we finished strong,” Noreen said. “We have a lot of promise and are still getting our skills together.”
With Noreen being the team's only senior, growing pains are expected for the Huskies.
“It's going to be an interesting year and there's plenty of room for improvement,” Naperville North coach Chris Stanicek said. “We need to stay focused, get consistent and elevate our skill level in routines.”
Jessica Griffin took seventh place in the all-around with a 32.425 to help Glenbard East secure ninth place with a 93.6.