Northwest/scouting MSL, postseason girls gymnastics
By Michael Eaken
Mid-Suburban League girls gymnastics meet
Where: Rolling Meadows High School
When: 6 p.m. Friday
Teams to Watch
Fremd has dominated the MSL winning 21 titles, including the past three, but this year will have a serious challenge by an experienced and talented Schaumburg squad seeking its first title. Senior Maegan Wochinski powers the Vikings and has been helped by the emergence of talented sophomore Stephanie Gallo. Fremd hit a season-best score of 146.875 on Jan. 15 at its own invite. Last year Fremd held off Schaumburg 143.925-143.150 to win the MSL in a total team victory. This year the Vikings will need a similar attack and will be looking for contributions from juniors Elizabeth Uhrich and Stephanie Uhrich, sophomores Emily Pinderski, Anna Johnson and Shannon Lemajeur and freshman Christine Jensen. “Consistency is the key,” said Fremd coach Jim Guest. “We just need to go out there and hit our routines. One event at a time and worry about ourselves.”
Schaumburg is looking to dethrone the defending champions and beat Fremd in early January to secure its first MSL West title. The Saxons have had a consistent season, hitting a school-record 144.875 on Jan. 15 at the Prospect Invite. Senior Brooke Shimon and junior Ashley Miller give Schaumburg a powerful 1-2 punch but it is far from a two-person team. Senior Caitlin Barrett and sophomore Erin Barrett have solidified the attack with sophomore Amanda Sigler and freshman Kat Young offering support. The Saxons return five gymnasts from last year’s MSL runner-up and are looking for bigger things this year. “We’re really excited and that’s one of our goals,” said Schaumburg coach Jami Stilling of winning the MSL title. “We’ve been having some great practices and the girls are really focused.”
Lurking in the shadows are Prospect, Palatine, and Barrington. Prospect hit a school record 143.0 on Jan. 15 at its own invite. Freshman Gianna Scala leads Prospect, but senior Christine Pekar and sophomore Meggie Kania add depth. Palatine hit a season-best 142.35 on Jan. 11 with sophomore Nicole Kuksuk pacing the Pirates. Palatine also leans on sophomore Abby Alden and senior Nicole Barba. Barrington welcomed the return of junior Tiffany Persels and hit a season-best 139.0 on Monday. Senior Lexi Marsella leads the way and the Fillies seem to be peaking at the right time.
Individual Watch
Brooke Shimon (Schaumburg): The senior has comeback from two elbow surgeries and a broken ankle in her first three years to power the Saxons attack. This year Shimon is healthy and it has shown.
Ashley Miller (Schaumburg): The junior won the MSL all-around title as a sophomore, has shaken off some early-season rust and is back in top form.
Maegen Wochinski (Fremd): The senior has been consistent all season in powering the Vikings attack.
Lexi Marsella (Barrington): The senior has been a force, hitting a 9.6 on the beam at the Lake County Invite.
Nicole Kuksuk (Palatine): The sophomore has polished off her skills this year and has become one of the top all arounders in the MSL. Kuksuk has looked much more confident in a breakthrough season and her stock continues to rise.
Gianna Scala (Prospect): The freshman seems to have maturity beyond her years and despite a few hiccups has risen to the challenge on more than one occasion.
Others to watch: Stephanie Gallo (Soph., Fremd), Lauren Cerza (Jr., Rolling Meadows), Amelia Rafferty (Fr., Elk Grove), Bri Bibel (Fr., Conant), Caitlin Barrett (Sr., Schaumburg).
Postseason preview
Stevenson sectional
The Stevenson regional kicks off the state series at 6:30 p.m. Monday. The host Patriot holds the second-best season mark (150.4) and will be favorites in a field that includes Buffalo Grove, Hersey, and Palatine.
Fremd will hosts a regional at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and will be favored in a field that includes a strong Libertyville team.
Lake Forest holds the third-best mark in state (149.55) and will host a regional on at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday with Barrington in the field.
Top seed and defending state champion Carmel will host a regional at the Lake Forest East campus at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. The Corsairs enter with the top mark in state (151.0) and will be favorites in a field that includes Wheeling. All four regionals feed into the Stevenson sectional on Monday, Feb. 7 at 6:30 p.m.
Niles North sectional
Maine South will host the first regional at 6:30 p.m. Monday. Prospect enters as the favorite with Hoffman Estates also in the field.
Schaumburg will host a regional at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday; the host Saxons lead the field that includes Rolling Meadows.
Maine West travels to the New Trier regional on Friday, Feb. 4 at 6:30 p.m.
Conant and Elk Grove travel to the Niles North regional on Saturday, Feb. 5 at 1 p.m. All four regionals will feed into the Niles North sectional on Thursday, Feb. 10 starting at 6:30 p.m.