Northwest/Scouting state gymnastics
By Michael Eaken
Daily Herald Correspondent
Girls gymnastics
State tournament scouting
When: Session I, 5 p.m. Friday (preliminaries in the individual events and finals in the all-around). Session II, 5:30 p.m. Saturday (championship finals in individual events/team competition).
Where: Palatine High School
Automatic team qualifiers (with sectional score): Carmel (151.75), Prairie Ridge Co-op (147.25), Glenbard North (146.35), Lyons Township (144.05).
At-large team qualifiers: Fremd (146.975), Stevenson (146.875), New Trier (145.95), Lake Forest (145.375).
Top individual event sectional scores: Vault: Lauren Feeley (Jr), Carmel 9.85; uneven bars: Alyssa Lopez (Sr.), Dekalb Co-op 9.875; balance beam: Samantha Stoddart (Fr), New Trier 9.65; floor exercise: Kristin Mirski (Sr.), Carmel 9.70; all-around: Kristin Mirski (Sr.) Carmel 38.45.
Team Outlook: Carmel seems to be untouchable at this point as the two-time defending state champion hit a jaw-dropping 153.725 at the Lake Country meet in January, then came back to hit a 153.225 at the Deerfield regional. Stevenson’s top team state meet mark of 152.77 in 2004 will be in danger this weekend. The race for second and third place is wide open. Prairie Ridge, Fremd, Stevenson and Glenbard North are all looking to hit at the right time. New Trier, Lake Forest, and Lyons could pull a surprise.
Closer Look at Teams
Fremd: The Vikings have won 20 state trophies, including 12 state titles. This weekend they will be looking to add to their collection. Fremd used a big finish on the bars and beam in taking second at the Lake Park sectional and enter the state meet with plenty of momentum. “Those have definitely been our anchors all season,” added Fremd coach Tim Hamman of the two events. “Bouncing back from regionals and having a strong sectionals has the team excited.” Senior sisters Stephanie and Elizabeth Uhrich, and junior Emily Pinderski were contributing members of the Fremd team that took third at state in 2010. “It seems like the whole team has been connecting this season,” said Pinderski of the Vikings’ deep and talented team. “It’s made us a better team, and if we stay focused and keep the energy up we’ll be fine.” Junior Stephanie Gallo (bars) and freshman Sydney Plichta (beam) added first-place finishes for the Vikings at the sectional meet. Junior Shannon Lemajuer qualified for three events and also in the all-around, with Stephanie Uhrich (beam, bars), Pinderski (bars), Plichta (bars), and sophomore Christine Jensen (beam) also qualifying on individual events.
The Vikings can go 10 deep and Hamman has not been afraid to shuffle the deck. “Everyone feels responsible for what happens,” said Elizabeth Uhrich of the Vikings team mentality. “We’re all competing for the team. If we hit, regardless of our place, we’ll be happy.” The Vikings have been a fun and loose group this season, but when the lights go on, they’ve been ready. Most teams depend on one or two top all-arounders, that’s not the case for Fremd; multiple individuals have stepped to the forefront to pace the Vikings at different times this season. Stephanie Uhrich won the all-around title to lead the Vikings to the Mid-Suburban League championship, Lemajuer has elevated her performance in the postseason and Plichta has been immune to the postseason pressure. Collectively the Vikings are a dangerous team and seem to rise to the occasion at the right time. “We have a lot of depth on our team and it’s not just one person,” added Stephanie Uhrich, “Everybody contributes, we’re all like sisters.”
Stevenson: The Patriots offer a nice mix of experience and youth. Senior Ali Castriano and freshman Elizabeth Shank went 1-2 in the all-around to lead Stevenson to a regional title with an impressive 149.125 points. The Patriots weren’t quite as efficient at the Niles North sectional, but they still got the job done by taking second place. Junior Becca Feltman Frank, junior Riley Trebilco and freshman Allysa Weisberg have also helped lift a Patriot attack that suffered a blow when senior Theresa Wojton was injured during the holiday break. Wojton is back on limited basis and is hoping to aid the Patriots team score. “I think we’re a team that is on its way up,” said Stevenson coach Judy Harwood, whose team is looking to secure its eighth state trophy. Shank and Weisberg have had impressive freshman seasons and were big contributors at the sectionals. Castriano won an individual state title on the beam in 2010, but a partial abdominal tear cut short her state meet last season. This year the senior is healthy and is primed to have a major impact. “The past three years I’ve been injured at state, but this year I’m healthy,” said Castriano whose team will definitely be in the trophy hunt. “We showed our potential at regionals by going 20-for-20.” The Patriots would like nothing more than to have that same type of showing this weekend.
Carmel: Forget the talk about a state record or three-peat; the Corsairs are focusing on perfection. They hit a 151.75 at the Niles North sectional, yet they weren’t satisfied. They went 20-for-20 at the Deerfield regional and that’s what they are looking for again. “It’s not about who they beat or what place they take, it’s how they feel about how they performed, and they’re not comparing it to anybody else,” said Carmel coach Sarah Doyle. Senior Kristin Mirski (floor) and junior Lauren Feely (beam) both won state individual titles last season and finished 1-2 in the all-around at the Niles North sectional. This year Mirski has the top sectional score on the floor and all-around, with Feely registering the top sectional score on the vault. Seniors Jen Zeller and Anna Brandmeier and junior Sarah Cohen Smith add to a very talented Corsairs attack. “We’re not thinking about score, we’re thinking about going 20-for-20,” added Feely of the Corsairs focus, although the pieces are all in place for a record setting performance. “I guess this would be the year to do it.” And the Corsairs definitely have the ability to make a bit of history.
Prairie Ridge Co-op: The Wolves hit a season-best score in capturing the Lake Park sectional and will be seeking their first state trophy this weekend. Freshman Riley Mahoney, freshman Racheal Underwood and senior Nikki Novak power Prairie Ridge. Jenny Covers, who won the state all-around title in 2009 and 2011, graduated, but the Wolves have not missed a beat with Mahoney and Underwood injecting life into their attack. Novak took fourth at state on the bars last season. “That’s the nucleus of the team,” PR coach Lee Battaglia. “The more pressure, the better they should be.”
Glenbard North: Senior Amanda Quinn and junior Mariah Matesi went 2-3 in the all-around, powering Glenbard North to the sectional title.
Lyons: The Lions took second in state in 2010; this year freshman Kelsy Kurfirst has led their attack. Kurfirst took first in three events to lead Lyons to the Hinsdale Central sectional championship and she is looking to cap an impressive first season this weekend.
New Trier: The Trevians will be making their first state appearance since 1995. They finished third in 1992 and 1993 and qualified for this season’s state meet with a season best 145.95 at the Niles North sectional. Freshman Samantha Stoddart helped pace the Trevians with a sectional-best 9.65 on the beam. Junior Kerry Scafidi also will aid the Trevians attack.
Lake Forest: The Scouts finished second in state last season, and squeezed into this year’s tournament with the final at-large bid. Junior Kylie Carlson, junior Katherine McKeon and sophomore Brittany Moccia help pace a thin Scout attack.
Area Individual Qualifiers
Gianna Scala, (Prospect, so., all-around, vault, beam, floor): Scala enters the state meet with the fourth-best sectional score on the floor (9.625). She came back from a sprained MCL at mid-season, and will be seeking her first appearance in Saturday’s individual finals. A definite floor medal contender.
Lauren Johnson (Prospect, sr., bars): Johnson has been fully healthy this season, after starting last season with a broken foot. This will be her second consecutive appearance at the state meet, she has been one of the most consistent performers for the Knights this season. “Starting the year off healthy and being able to do everything, is what made this year so great for me,” said Johnson.
Meggie Kania (Prospect, jr., beam): Kania qualified on floor as a freshman, but has been slowed by a nagging back injury the past two seasons. After missing a chunk of this season to the back injury, she returned for an inspiring postseason run, with a gritty performance at sectionals that lifted the Knights “It’s been a long haul through the season,” said Kania, “but it’s a great feeling to be able to come back and make state.”
Bri Bibel (Conant, so., all-around, vault, beam): Bibel capped a fantastic season by qualifying on two events and all-around, as she just missed on the bars and floor. Bibel has dealt with a back injury all season, but has put aside the pain to perform at a high level. She qualified for her second consecutive state appearance and is definitely a rising star. “She is a competitor and has a strong drive,” said Conant coach Lorel Cunningham.
Abby Alden (Palatine, jr., beam): Alden makes her first state appearance after taking fifth on the beam at the Lake Park sectional. She helped carry the Pirates early in the season and got stronger near the end. “She definitely came on at the end and she looks so much better,” said Palatine coach Terry Theobald.
Nicole Kuksuk (Palatine, jr., vault, floor): Kuksuk is making her third consecutive trip to the state meet. She took it slow early in the season, returning from a back injury, but seemed to put it together at the end of the season. “It took a little while for her to get there this season, we took it step by step, but she has been peaking at the right time,” said Palatine coach Terry Theobald.
Tiffany Persels (Barrington, sr., floor): Persels made good on her last attempt to qualify for the state meet. She has been consistent all season powering Barrington, but she really has been a hit on the floor. Persels took third in the MSL on floor (9.5), added a first at regionals (9.5) and sealed her spot at state by taking fifth (9.35). “She has just been so consistent this season, and her floor routine commands your attention,” said Barrington coach Jason Loeffler.