Scouting the MSL boys gymnastics meet

What: Mid-Suburban League conference meet

When: Friday, 6 p.m.

Where: Elk Grove High School

2010 MSL Meet standings: 1. Conant 155.95; 2. Fremd 148.75; 3. Palatine 148.00; 4. Elk Grove 138.75; 5. Buffalo Grove 136.45; 6. Prospect 132.45; 7. Schaumburg 131.20; 8. Rolling Meadows 130.80; 9. Hersey 124.05, Hoffman Estates 116.70 11. Barrington 111.90.

2011 favorite: Palatine

Outlook: Palatine is looking to return to the top of the conference after Conant ended the Pirates’ run of three straight crowns last season. Before 2010, Palatine had won seven straight MSL West titles under 11th-year coach Scott Hagel. “We are probably the team to beat score-wise,” Hagel said. “But we are not that far ahead of teams like Conant and Elk Grove.” Sophomore Jonah Hinz and senior Damian Przystal have been top all-arounders for the Pirates. Hinz competed in the all-around for the first time at the Ed Raymond Invite at Conant two weeks ago. He had an impressive second-place 53.05 total (8.84 average). Hinz had been competing in only four events due to a minor fracture in his lower vertebra. “Jonah will go all-around and throw a little better vault (than at the Raymond Invite),” Hagel said. The Pirates’ score of 151.95 at the Raymond gave them second ahead of the host Cougars, who were third (144.65) while Buffalo Grove was fourth (143.23). MSL defending champ Conant features Steven Rink, who is the only returning gymnast in the MSL who was among the top 28 state finishers in the all-around. “We will definitely try to (win the crown again),” said Cougars coach Paul Kim. “Palatine is a good team. We are getting better and more consistent. We’re doing a few things here and there to see if we can get closer to them. I think we can push 150. We are hoping to have a good night and see what happens.” The Cougars’ top night so far was a 148.5 against Schaumburg and Maine East on April 13. Rink’s best all-around score is a 53.2. “He is getting progressively better, becoming more solid and consistent with his routines,” said Kim, whose team was third in the state tourney a year ago. “We hope he keeps pushing. We are doing some new tricks. We have a nice group of seniors so we hope they rise up to the occasion at the conference meet and sectional and hopefully we can be one of the teams to make the Elite Eight.” Buffalo Grove has been led by senior Eugene Blackmon, who scored a 49.7 to win the all-around at the District 214 meet two weeks ago. The Bison’s top score this season is a 146.35 in a tri-meet with Fremd and Barrington. Seniors Kyle Siebert and Kyle Chamberlain have also provided the Bison with consistent scores all season. “You’ve got Conant, Palatine, Elk Grove and us but Palatine kind of set the bar a little higher than everyone,” said Bison coach Chris Stevens. “We’ll do the best we can in that area.” Unfortunately, one Bison who won’t be competing is two-time state vault qualifier Eric Balko (broken wrist). Balko scored a 9.2 to win the vault at the 21st annual MSL West vs. East Camaraderie Meet at Barrington High School to open the season. “We’ve had some kids who are out,” Stevens said.”We are doing what we can. Losing Eric is costly because he did three events for us. We are hoping to stay at the same score we’ve been at.” Returning champ: Elk Grove#146;s Damian Zukowski is the lone returning individual champ from the 2010 MSL meet. Zukowski posted an 8.85 to win the high bar. The senior all-arounder has helped Elk Grove become a top contender for the MSL East title this season. Grenadiers coach Keith Mukai said Zukowski is nursing a shoulder injury and is hoping to be ready. #147;If Damian is healthy, and Nick Alcazar is rocking like he has been, and our No. 3 scores continue to progress as they have been, we#146;ll be in good shape,#148; Mukai said. #147;I still don#146;t know what we can do as a team. We have a lot of great pieces, some flashes of greatness, but we must put it all together in one meet.#148; The Grens#146; high score this season is 145.0 in a dual meet against Prospect. Mukai says hosting the event can work both ways. #147;As much as it is an advantage being on your own equipment, it#146;s a disadvantage in that you start dreaming of all the glory in front of your home crowd,#148; said Mukai, who coincidentally got to perform in his home gym for the conference meet when he was a senior gymnast at Niles West. #147;You#146;ve got to try and avoid those distractions.#148;