Girls gymnastics: Scouting Northwest

Girls gymnastics: Scouting Northwest

MID-SUBURBAN EASTBuffalo GroveCoach: Stephanie Schrader (14th year)

Varsity gymnasts: Diandra Duenser (sr.), Sarah Cottone (sr.), Teresa Riles (jr.), Bridget Donnowitz (jr.), Isabella Samson (jr.), Kara Tyner (so.), Emily Ruby (so.), Melanie Goldfarb (so.), Alyssa Paronia (so.).

Outlook: Duenser will be looking to qualify for state this season after coming close the past two season. The senior took a big step forward last season and will be strong in the all-around. The Bison are also excited about the addition of Riles, who will combine with Duesner and Tyner to form a solid core. Last season Buffalo Grove finished eighth at the Mid-Suburban League meet and its season-best score was 133.15; the Bison are looking to improve on both marks this season.

Elk GroveCoach: Amy Burke (first year).

Varsity gymnasts: Anna Bonder (sr.), Katie Oswald (sr.), Angel Skuse (jr.), Jill Valente (fr.), Jessica Hadler (fr.), Anna Sprenger (fr.).

Outlook: Burke takes over the Grenadiers program. The 2010 Wheeling graduate finished third on the vault at the 2010 state meet for the Wildcats. Bonder, Oswald, and Skuse will give Elk Grove experience. Last season the Grens finished 11th in the MSL with a season-best mark of 121.35. With the addition of three talented freshmen, Elk Grove is optimistic for bigger things this season.

HerseyCoach: Shannon Barrett (third year).

Varsity gymnasts: Alysa Zurlo (sr.), Maggie Barton (jr.), Tori Schmidtt (jr.), Allie Heidrich (jr.), Mackenzie Kamysz (so.).

Outlook: Hersey is coming off a very strong season. The Huskies finished fourth in the MSL last season hitting a season-best mark of 139.20. Hersey continued to impress by qualifying as a team to the Lake Park sectional. The Huskies also qualified two individuals to the state meet, with Zurlo and Kamysz both qualifying on the beam. Zurlo came back strong from a hip flexor injury last season and will be a strong all-around threat this season. Kamysz had a strong freshman year and will look to improve this season. Barton is coming off an injury and Schmidtt had strong summer; both are hoping to bolster the Huskies' attack. Hersey is one of the better teams in the MSL and hopes to take a collective step forward this season.

ProspectCoach: Bridget Erickson (first year).

Key losses: Maddie Larock, Maddie Boldt.

Varsity gymnasts: Megan Donner (sr.), Amanda Kamal (sr.), Olivia Sullo (sr.), Margaret McCue (jr.), Madelyn Marx (jr.), Jane Williams (so.), Stefania Sullo (so.), Erica Schickerling (so.), Daniela Rizzi (so.), Kaitlyn Granato (so.), Abigail Gonzalez (so.), Rose Barros (so.).

Outlook: Prospect has had a pretty special run in qualifying to back-to-back state meets. But the Knights took a big hit in losing Larock to graduation. She finished second at state in the all-around last season and also added a fourth-place medal on bars and fifth-place medal on floor. Prospect also will not have defending MSL all-around champion Olivia Gonzalez, who decided not to participate this season. But Erickson, who takes over the Prospect program from Randy Smith, will have plenty to work with this season. Donner will push the Knights' attack and will get support from Sullo and Kamal. Williams also was a contributing member for the Knights last season. A talented group of sophomores will add depth and talent. Prospect finished third in the MSL last season with a season-best of 144.30; the Knights aim to extend that kind of success this winter.

Rolling MeadowsCoach: Michael Costa (11th year).

Varsity gymnasts: Kelly Johnston (sr.), Victoria Zervos (jr.), Morgan Niecikowski (so.), Jennifer Kokotis (so.), Katie Reich (fr.), Margaret Morgan (jr.), Olivia Skwerski (sr.), Colleen Peterson (sr.).

Outlook: Johnston will key the Mustangs' effort this season. The senior is the defending state beam champion and is one of the top returning state-level gymnasts. She has won back-to-back MSL beam titles and will be a threat in the all-around as well this season. Zervos will be another key performer, and Reich is hoping to make an immediate impact. Rolling Meadows showed potential last season in hitting a season-best 135.20 in mid-January. The Mustangs finished ninth in the MSL but have the pieces this season to make a strong run.

WheelingCoach: Nicole Maila (fourth year).

Key losses: Meghan Aguayo.

Varsity gymnasts: Hannah Bradford (sr.), Jessica Stavros (fr.), Anna Emery (fr.), Emily Lucas (fr.), Alexis Knight (fr.),

Outlook: Bradford returns to lead a young Wildcats attack this season. Stavros could make an immediate impact for Wheeling. Wheeling finished 12th in the MSL last season and it season best mark was 114.20. A young team offers plenty of hope for improvement at Wheeling.

MID-SUBURBAN WESTBarringtonCoach: Jason Loeffler: (20th year).

Key losses: Jessica Lee, Jada Jones, Tara Schumann, Kseniya Kisleva.

Varsity gymnasts: Abby Hasanov (sr.), Molly Blanke (sr.), Hayley Nilles (jr.), Rachel Timperman (jr.), Morgan Eisenhauer (sr.), Claire Marousek (sr.).

Outlook: Barrington has finished fourth at state in back-to-back years and the Fillies are looking to keep building this season. It starts with Hasanov, who is one of the top returning gymnasts in the state. She won the uneven bars state title as a sophomore and last season she added a state floor title. The Barrington senior has earned a total of four state medals and will be looking to add to her collection this season in pushing the Fillies' attack. Blanke will also add to the effort. The senior injured her ankle on beam at sectionals last season but was a state qualifier on vault. She will have an impact this season. Also keep an eye out for Nilles and Timperman, as both add experience. Barrington finished second in the MSL last season and hit a season-best 147.10 in mid-January. This season the Fillies will look to build off their success and should once again be contending for a state qualification.

ConantCoach: Anthony Avella (first year).

Key losses: Ali Kelly

Varsity gymnasts: Bailey Bloom (so.), Baily Hornstein (sr.), Isabella Ostrowski (jr.), Mariana Vazquez-Rosas (jr.), Melynda Meyrick (jr.), Emilie Suray (sr.), Taylor Salgado (sr.), Alia Bongiorno (jr.), Kelly Czerpack (jr.).

Outlook: Avella takes over the reigns of the Conant program from Lorel Cunningham, who directed the Cougars for eight years. Conant will be leaning on a pair of youngster to lead their effort. Bloom had a strong freshman season and will set the tempo this season. Meyrick will also make an impact. Conant finished sixth in the MSL last season, hitting a season-best mark of 134.75.

FremdCoach: Elise Ference-Saisi (fifth year).

Key losses: Sydney Plichta, Emily Neal, Christine Radochonski.

Varsity gymnasts: Lisa Radochonski (sr.), Grace Korn (sr.), Gab Lytle (sr.), Carly DeFilippo (sr.), Mariah Gura (sr.), Maggie Betti (sr.), Alyssa Garcia (sr.), Abby Moran (so.), Kaylin Lemajeur (so.), Melanie Ng (so), Courtney Ng (so.).

Outlook: Fremd earned its 23rd state trophy last season, capturing third place for the third consecutive year. The Vikings will look to continue that success this season. They've lost three key members from last season's team, but a strong senior class will have the Viking in contention once again. DeFilippo has been a big part of the recent Vikings success and she will team with Gura, Betti, Lytle, and Korn in giving the Vikings a solid core. Moran had a strong freshman season and Radochonski returns from an injury to give the Vikings plenty of depth. Fremd won its 22nd MSL title last season and hit a season-best mark of 148.95 in late January. Fremd definitely has the pieces to make another trophy run this season.

Hoffman EstatesCoach: Natalie Tindle (seventh year).

Key losses: Jasminka Sabic.

Varsity gymnasts: Alyssa Bellows (sr.), Abigail Fuscone (fr.), Sidney Blanz Enright (sr.).

Outlook: Hoffman Estates will miss the contributions of Sabic, who won the MSL floor title last season and finished third in the all-around. Bellows and Enright will provide leadership for a young Hawks squad. Also keep an eye on Fuscone, who will provide some energy for the Hawks attack. Hoffman Estates finished 10th in the MSL last season hitting a season best mark of 125.30.

PalatineCoach: Terry Theobald (34th year).

Key losses: Andrea Ori, Morgan Anderson, Claudia Przystal.

Varsity gymnasts: Megan Cunningham (sr.), Kara Ure (jr.), Christina DiGioia (so.), Abby Amato (so.), Callee Aikman (so.), Ashley Jackson, Carrie Raymond, Kristin Ure (fr.), Jess Streepy (fr.).

Outlook: Cunningham and Kara Ure will lead a young Pirate attack. Both were key members for Palatine last season. DiGioia had a strong freshman season and will continue to progress. Palatine has a number of young gymnasts it expects to contribute. Last year the Pirates were derailed by some key injuries, but this team has plenty of potential. Palatine finished seventh in the MSL last season and had a season-best mark of 135.60. Look for the Pirates to improve upon those marks this season.

SchaumburgCoach: Elizabeth Prostka (third year).

Key losses: Samantha Panther.

Varsity gymnasts: Caiti Poland (sr.), Jessica Muza (sr.), Alyssa Kiszka (sr.), Alison Janega (jr.), Mikayla Vogt (so.), Rossini Jayawardena (fr.), Chalisa Kulprathipanja (fr.).

Outlook: Poland and Vogt will push the Saxons' attack this season. Poland qualified to the state meet on bars last season and is an all-round threat. Vogt made an immediate impact last season as a freshman, qualifying to the state meet on the beam. The two Saxons give Prostka a couple of aces. Muza and Kiska also contributed to the Saxons attack that just missed qualifying for the sectionals as a team. Schaumburg finished fifth in the MSL last season and its season-high mark was 140.45.

CENTRAL SUBURBAN NORTHMaine WestCoach: Amanda Harrison (fourth year).

Key losses: Nikki Bonilla, Kate Barzano, Michelle Henry, Stephanie Schillinger.

Varsity gymnasts: Marissa Gradei (sr.), Briana Gall (sr.), Rayna Davis (fr.), Gabriella Demma (fr.), Lily Huerta (so.).

Outlook: Gradei will push the Warriors attack this season. The senior won the all-around title at the CSL North meet last season and is aiming for a state qualification this season. Gall will add experience and Davis and Demma will infuse the Warriors with some energy. Maine West finished fifth in the CSL North last season and had season-best mark of 118.90.

WEST SUBURBAN GOLDLeydenCoach: Jennifer Thomas (fourth year).

Varsity gymnasts: Abby Grande (sr.), Erlyn Carrera (sr.), Alyssa Laskowski (sr.), Carlean Vasquez (sr.), Justyna Luberda (jr.), Esther Aldana (so.), Liz Treto (so.).

Outlook: Carrera returns as the top all-around gymnast for the Eagles. Grande will also contribute. The two Eagles seniors will provide the team with strong leadership. Aldana and Treto have also improved and will bolster Leydens' effort. Leyden had a season-high 107.95 in late December last season.

- Michael Eaken