Fremd gymnastics coach Guest to retire
There haven’t been very many surprises for the Fremd girls gymnastic team over the years.
The Vikings have been a picture of consistency — qualifying for the state meet 25 times and earning 20 team trophies with 12 state titles.
But Fremd coach Jim Guest gave the Vikings quite a surprise Wednesday when he announced his retirement.
Guest has coached gymnastics for 24 years, including the past seven as the Fremd head coach — leading the Vikings to state titles in 2005, ’07 and ’08.
“I was medically advised to get out,” said Guest who has been contemplating retirement since the Christmas break.
“My body was breaking down with all the spotting and I realized it was time.”
Guest graduated from Downers Grove South in 1981 and went on to compete in gymnastics for the University of Wisconsin La Crosse.
Guest started his coaching career at Streamwood in 1989 and also was the boys assistant coach at Glenbard North when the Panthers won the state title in 1992.
He spent five years as the head girls gymnastic coach at St. Charles High School from 1996-2000, leading his team to three consecutive state appearances (1998-2000) — including a second-place trophy in 1998.
He served as an assistant to legendary Fremd coach Larry Petrillo from 2002-04, before taking over the Vikings in 2005. Petrillo had led the Vikings to nine state titles, four seconds and two thirds,
But Fremd didn’t miss a beat, as Guest directed the Vikings to seven top-six state finishes including three state titles, a second (2006), and a third (2010).
“I’m really proud of what he accomplished,” said Petrillo. “He always puts the kids first and does things for the right reason. He did a lot of good things and he’ll be missed.”
Guest also directed the Vikings to three outright Mid-Suburban League titles and two shared crowns, as well as winning six regional championships and four sectional titles.
Guest also coached Fremd boys gymnastic team for six years, guiding the 2007 squad to its first state appearance in 15 years.
“It’s beyond my wildest imagination,” Guest said. “I didn’t get into coaching for all the trophies, I was in it to help the kids and be an educator. Gymnastics has been an important part of my life.”
Guest coached three individual state champions for Fremd — 2007 graduate Holly Reichard (two state titles), 2008 graduate Mary Burke (nine state titles) and 2007 graduate David Mohr (one state title).
In girls gymnastics alone, Guest had 25 state-qualifying gymnasts, 11 state finalists and nine state medalists
“He taught me so much, I can’t pinpoint one thing,” said Fremd senior Meagan Wochinski, who became his final individual medalist when she took fifth on the uneven parallel bars at this season’s state meet. “I’ve grown so much as a person, leader and a gymnast. He will be hard to replace.”
Guest scaled the pinnacle of his career in 2007-08.
In 2007, the Fremd girls won the state title, and the boys squad qualified for state four years after winning only one meet.
Burke powered the Vikings to their second consecutive title in 2008 by sweeping the four individual events and winning the all-around.
“That was a nice ride,” Guest said. “It was something else.”
Guest will be attending an upcoming reunion for his Streamwood team. Seeing how each individual has progressed brings him his biggest joy.
“You look at how they have developed and how they are making a positive difference,” Guest said. “That means more than the state titles.”
It seems only fitting that Guest will remain at Fremd as the driver education department chair, because he has certainly taken the Vikings for quite a ride during his coaching career.