Girls gymnastics: Scouting Northwest
MID-SUBURBAN EAST Buffalo Grove Coach: Stephanie Schrader (13th year).
Key losses: Erika Ray
Varsity gymnasts: Diandra Duenser (jr.), Sarah Cottone (jr.), Isabella Samson (soph.), Bridget Donnowitz (soph.), Kara Tyner (fr.), Alyssa Paronia (fr.), Emily Ruby (fr.), Melanie Goldfarb (fr.), Hannah Lim (fr.).
Outlook: Duenser will lead the Bison attack this season. She is looking to build off her sophomore season and has added more difficulty to her routines after just missing the state meet on beam last season. Cottone, Samson, and Donnowitz will add experience for the Bison, and a nice group of incoming freshmen offer plenty of potential. Buffalo Grove finished 10th in the MSL last season but the potential is there for the Bison to make much progress this season.
Elk Grove Coach: Bridget Erickson (firsts year).
Key losses: Amelia Rafferty
Varsity gymnasts: Anna Bonder (jr.), Sandi Cruz (jr.), Pam Garcia (jr.), Katie Oswald (jr.), Angel Skuse (soph.), Hailey Bantoz (soph.), Pamela Dinera (soph.), Jalyssa Mercado (fr.), Idania Bahena (soph.).
Outlook: Elk Grove will miss Rafferty, who earned two state medals last season and was a terrific anchor for the Grenadiers' attack. Bonder will be looking to pick up the slack and will lead the Grens. Erickson takes over as coach from Heather DeCook, who led Elk Grove for 10 years. Erickson was a former Wheeling head coach and assisted DeCook for the past four years. Keep an eye on Skuse, who will combine with Bonder to lead the team.
Hersey Coach: Shannon Barrett (second year).
Key losses: Anne Johnson.
Varsity gymnasts: Kelly Haines (sr.), Alysa Zurlo (jr.), Ada Lupa (jr.), Maggie Barton (soph.), Ali Heidrich (soph.), Tori Schmidt (soph.), Mackenzie Kamysz (fr.).
Outlook: Barton and Zurlo helped Hersey to a seventh-place finish in the MSL last season. Those two are back this year and will key for the Huskies. Barton worked hard in the summer and is hoping it pays off this season. Heidrich adds experience and Kamysz will also help. The Huskies showed flashes last season but were derailed by Johnson's injury; the experience they members gained figures to help Hersey this season.
Prospect Coach: Randy Smith (fifth year).
Key losses: Gianna Scala, Jackie DiFonzo.
Varsity gymnasts: Maddie Larock (sr.), Maddie Boldt (sr.), Olivia Sullo (jr.), Megan Donner (jr.), Olivia Gonzalez (soph.), Abby Gonzalez (fr.).
Outlook: Prospect top all-arounder Scala to a preseason injury last year, but the Knights rebounded by qualifying for their first state meet. Prospect finished third in the MSL, then hit a school record (146.625) at its regional meet before finishing eighth at state. Larock did a fine job of leading the Knights. She qualified for the state meet in all four event and also in the all-around and is one of the top returning gymnasts in the state. Olivia Gonzalez made plenty of progress in her first year, qualifying for the state meet on the floor and vault. She will team with Larock to give the Knights a solid 1-2 punch. Donner was a state qualifier on the bars. Boldt and Sullo give the Knights experience. Keep an eye on Abby Gonzalez, Olivia's sister, as she could provide a huge boost by the postseason. Prospect got valuable state experience last year and the Knights will be in the hunt for another state berth this season.
Rolling Meadows Coach: Michael Costa (10th year).
Key losses: Rachel Anderson.
Varsity gymnasts: Kelly Johnston (jr.), Victoria Zervos (soph.), Anna Cinch (jr.), Olivia Skwerski (jr.), Jennifer Kokotis (fr.), Morgan Niecikowski (fr.), Margaret Morgan (fr.).
Outlook: Johnston will key the Mustangs' attack this season. Last year Johnston took first on the beam, helping Rolling Meadows to a sixth-place finish in the MSL. She was also a state qualifier in the all-around, bars, and floor. Johnston has been knocking on the door for a state medal and this could be her year. Zervos also gave the Mustangs a big lift and was a state qualifier on vault. The Mustangs will count on a trio of freshman to provide big points. Rolling Meadows will get better as the season progresses and should take another step forward this season.
Wheeling Coach: Nicole Maila (third year).
Key losses: Anne Janulis, Annah Meintzer.
Varsity gymnast: Lexy Scanlon (sr.), Julianne Gross (sr.), Joanna Jachim (sr.), Hannah Bradford (jr.), Meghan Aguayo (jr.), Nicole Guest (fr.).
Outlook: Aguayo was a state qualifier on the floor last season and will anchor the Wildcats' attack this year. Aguayo missed her freshman season due to a knee injury but has become an all-around threat. Gross has made steady improvement and will make an impact this season. Keep an eye on Guest - this freshman has plenty of potential.
MID-SUBURBAN WEST Barrington Coach: Jason Loeffler (19th year).
Key losses: Brooke Morgan.
Varsity gymnasts: Abby Hasanov (jr.), Molly Blanke (jr.), Jessica Lee (sr.), Jada Jones (sr.), Tara Schumann (sr.), Hayley Nilles (soph.), Kseniya Kisleva (sr.)
Outlook: The ceiling is high for a Barrington team that only lost one contributing senior from a squad that finished fourth at state. It starts with Hasanov, who tied for the state title on bars, added a fourth state medal on the floor, and also earned a fifth-place medal in the all-around. The Fillies junior enters the season as one the top gymnasts in the state and will be looking to add to her medal count. Lee, despite missing most of last season, was still a state qualifier on bars; she will definitely aid the Fillies' attack this season. Blanke is an all-around threat. Jones, Schumann, Nilles will fill in the gaps. Kisleva is a new addition this year and will add to a deep Barrington squad. Barrington took second in the MSL last season and will challenge Fremd for the title this season. The Fillies should be in the mix for a state trophy.
Conant Coach: Lorel Cunningham (eighth year).
Key losses: Meicie Bennett, Rachel Tong.
Varsity gymnasts: Bailey Bloom (fr.), Baily Hornstein (jr.), Ali Kelly (jr.), Gina Massa (sr.), Isabella Ostrowski (soph.), Bridget Shanahan (sr.), Mariana Vasquez (soph.).
Outlook: Conant came on strong last season and qualified four individuals to the state meet. The Cougars will miss the contributions from Bennett and Tong, but Shanahan and Kelly are primed for a big season. Both Kelly and Shanahan were state qualifiers on the beam. Conant hit a 142.75 last season and will be looking to go above 140 this season. Massa adds experience and Bloom will be looking to make an impact.
Fremd Coach: Elise Ference (fourth year).
Key losses: Christine Jensen.
Varsity gymnasts: Emily Neal (sr.), Christine Radochonski (sr.), Sydney Plichta (sr.), Mariah Gura (jr.), Carly DeFilippo (jr.), Maggie Betti (jr.), Grace Korn (jr.), Kailyn Bryk (soph.), Kaylin Lemajeur (fr.), Abby Moran (fr.).
Outlook: Fremd earned its 21st state trophy last season by taking third at state for a second consecutive year. The Vikings will miss Jensen, who was an all-around force, but they have plenty of returning talent to make a run at another state trophy. It starts with a talented and experience trio of seniors. Plichta has reached the Saturday state finals three consecutive years and will once again be a force on the bars and beam. She finished sixth at state on the beam last season. Radochonski also made the Saturday finals on the floor; she will be an all-around threat this season. Neal was also a key contributor, while DeFilippo finished seventh at state on the vault and took a big step forward last season and Betti and Gura gained valuable experience. Keep an eye on Lemajeur and Moran. The two freshmen will make an impact. Fremd is the defending MSL champion and figures to have a great chance to defend its title and again be in the hunt for a state trophy.
Hoffman Estates Coach: Natalie Tindle (sixth year).
Key losses: Jenny Gonzalez.
Varsity gymnasts: Jasminka Sabic (sr.), Marie Lange (sr.), Sidney Enright Blanz (jr.), Darcy Majeske (soph.), Oluwapelumi Olaiten (sr.), Alyssa Bellows (jr.).
Outlook: Hoffman Estates will lean on Sabic. The Hawk senior has emerged and will be aiming for a state qualification this season. Sabic is a four-year varsity member and her experience will be key. Hoffman Estates may start the season slow due to illnesses but the Hawks will look to improve as they get healthy.
Palatine Coach: Terry Theobald (33rd year).
Varsity gymnast: Morgan Anderson (sr.), Andrea Ori (sr.), Claudia Przystal (sr.), Cindy Feliciano (sr.), Megan Cunningham (jr.), Kara Ure (soph.), Christina DiGoia (Fr.).
Outlook: Palatine will rely on its seniors to set the tone. Ori and Przystal offer plenty of big-meet experience. Anderson missed all of last season and will definitely aid the Pirates' attack this year. Ure had a solid freshman campaign and will add to the Pirates team strength. DiGoia will give the Pirates a fresh boost of ability, and as always, look for Palatine to be strong at season's end.
Schaumburg Coach: Elizabeth Prostka (second year).
Key losses: Ashley Chimas, Kat Young, Alyssa Vogt.
Varsity gymnast: Samantha Panther (sr.), Jessica Muza (jr.), Catherine Poland (jr.), Alyssa Kiszka (jr.), Alison Janege (soph.), Mikayla Vogt (fr.), Dana Kiszkowski (fr.).
Outlook: Schaumburg lost a chunk of senior leadership from last year's team and will also miss Myriam Brito, who decided not to participate this season. Kiszka and Muza will lead the Saxons' charge this season. Both were valuable contributors last season. Vogt and Kiszkowski will also infuse the Saxons with new some talent, and Panther and Poland both add experience.
CENTRAL SUBURBAN NORTH Maine West Coach: Amanda Harrison (third year).
Key losses: Shannon Morley, Rachelle Bugajsky, Donna Gallano, Loryn Floral.
Varsity gymnasts: Kate Barzano (sr.), Stephanie Schillinger (sr.), Michelle Henry (sr.), Nikkie Bonilla (sr.), Marissa Gradei (jr.), Briana Gall (jr.), Alexis Rizos (soph.), Krystal Scharringhausen (soph.).
Outlook: Gradei will pace Maine West this season. The Warriors' junior has high expectations this season and will be aiming for a state qualification. Bonilla, Barzano, and Schillinger return to offer experience.
WEST SUBURBAN GOLD Leyden Coach: Jennifer Thomas (third year).
Key losses: Hannah Brewer, Melissa Pasterz, Siahn Correa.
Varsity gymnasts: Esther Aldana (fr.), Erlyn Carrera (jr.), Menecis Garriga (jr.), Abby Grande (jr.), Alyssa Laskowski (jr.), Justyna Luberda (soph.), Jayleen Mercado (sr.), Lalli Solis (soph.), Liz Treto (fr.), Carlean Vasquez (jr.).
Outlook: Carrera and Vasquez will lead the Eagles attack. Leyden will also count on Aldana, Luberda, and Treto to contribute as the season progresses.