Scouting girls gymnastics state meet, Northwest
Scouting the state meet
When: Session I at 5:05 p.m. Friday (all-around final, individual event preliminaries, team competition). Session II, 5:45 p.m. Saturday (championship finals in individual events, team trophy presentation).
Where: Palatine High School
Automatic team qualifiers: Prairie Ridge co-op (149.55), DeKalb/Sycamore co-op (147.525), Carmel (146.275), Downers Grove South (143.875).
At-large team qualifiers: Glenbard West (146.175), Barrington (144.95), Fremd (144.60), Lake Park (144.35).
Team talk: Prairie Ridge co-op has a few new faces this year, but the defending state champions have picked up where they left off last year and will once again be favorites to win the team title. Cary-Grove senior Maddie Solka and junior Nikki Baars pace a deep Wolves attack. Prairie Ridge enters with the top sectional score and also had the top mark in state this season (150.4). DeKalb/Sycamore co-op enters with the second-best sectional mark and will be a force. Carmel, Glenbard West, Barrington, Fremd will also be in the hunt for a coveted state trophy.
Local focusBarrington: The Fillies enter the state meet with a bit of momentum after a strong second-place showing at the Schaumburg sectional. Barrington's effort starts with senior standout Abby Hasanov, who has earned four state medals, including a state titles on bars (2014) and floor (2015). Hasanov has qualified individually on all four events, and also in the all-around. She had the second-best sectional mark on beam (9.60), tied for the second-best mark on floor (9.55), the third-best sectional mark in all-around (38.175) and the fourth-best mark on vault (9.75). The UIC-bound senior definitely enters the state meet on a high note. Also qualifying individually for the Fillies were junior Rachel Timperman (balance beam) and junior Hayley Nilles (bars and balance beam). Both juniors have really picked it up this season and provided a spark for the Fillies. Senior Molly Blanke can cover all the events, and seniors Claire Marousek and Morgan Eisenhauer will help fill in the gaps. Barrington has finished fourth at the state meet for two consecutive years and is in the mix for a state trophy this season. "There is no reason to sugar-coat it, that is what I'm pushing the kids for and that's what they are pushing themselves for. They are tired of fourth place. It's going to be one big fight," said Barrington coach Jason Loeffler.
Fremd: The Vikings will be seeking their 24th state trophy this weekend after finishing with a third-place trophy the previous three years. Fremd won the Mid-Suburban League title and also added a regional title before finishing third at the Schaumburg sectional. The Vikings have five individual qualifiers that will pace the attack. Sophomore Melanie Ng had an outstanding sectional qualifying individually on bars, beam, and all-around. A group of seniors will also be key for Fremd - Carly DeFilippo (vault, floor), Maggie Betti (bars), Gab Lytle (vault) and Lisa Radochonski (bars) give the Vikings a solid core and figure to lead the way this weekend. Senior Grace Korn, senior Alyssa Garcia and sophomore Abby Moran give the Vikings plenty of depth. Fremd did not have its best performance at sectionals, but the Vikings turned the page and immediately set their sights on state. Look for the Vikings to bounce back this weekend and join the trophy pursuit "We came back to the gym after sectionals with a lot of things we wanted to work on and stuff we're chasing - and that's what we're doing, chasing our goals. We will definitely come in with a lot of fire," said Fremd coach Elise Ference-Saisi.
Individual area qualifiersKelly Johnston (sr.), Rolling Meadows: Johnston is the defending state beam champion and is coming on strong since suffering a concussion and bruised neck in early January. The Mustangs senior qualified on vault, beam, floor, and all-around.
Melynda Meyrick (jr.) and Bailey Bloom (soph.), Conant: Meyrick opened some eyes by winning the MSL all-around title in late January, and she has continued to build on that success during the state series. The Cougars junior participated in club gymnastics her first two years but has made quite a prep entrance this year. Meyrick qualified individually on all four events, including the all-around. She is definitely one to watch this weekend. Bloom has made a nice comeback from an early season ankle injury to qualify on beam.
Mackenzie Kamysz (so.), Alysa Zurlo (sr.), and Maggie Barton (sr.), Hersey: Kamysz has certainly taken a big step forward this season and combined with Zurlo and Barton to lead Hersey to the MSL East Division title and also its first regional title in 25 years. Kamysz qualified individually on the beam and floor, with Zurlo and Barton both qualifying individually on the floor.
Marissa Gradei (sr.), Maine West: Gradei made the most of her final opportunity by qualifying for her first state appearance. Gradei won the all-around title at the Central Suburban North meet and then at the Maine South regional. The Warriors senior continued her strong run at the Schaumburg sectional qualifying individually on the beam, floor, and all-around.
- Michael Eaken