Scouting girls gymnastics in the Northwest suburbs
Mid-Suburban East
Buffalo Grove Coach: Stephanie Schrader (16 years) and Allison Leslie (3rd year)
Key losses: Kara Tyner, Emily Ruby, Hannah Lim.
Varsity gymnasts: Dagmara Sobolak (Jr) Hannah Greenspan (so.) Olivia Tangorra (FR.), Leah Oyen (FR.), Anna Lang (FR.), Hannah Fricke (FR.).
Outlook: Sobolak anchored the Bisons to a sevent- place finish in the MSL last season. Sobolak was slowed early in the season by a concussion but came on strong to qualify to the state meet on the bars. She will look to continue her momentum this season. Tangorra should also make an impact this season. Elk Grove
Coach: Amy Rivera (4th year).
Varsity gymnasts: Anna Sprenger (sr.), Jess Hadler (sr.), Jill Valente (sr.), Katie Talens (Jr), Hannah Baumeister (Jr), Leyla Barragan Ruiz (sr.), Rachel Ford (Jr.).
Outlook: Sprenger and Hadler will provide veteran leadership for a Grenadier team that finished in 11th place at the MSL meet. The Grens showed improvement last season and will rely on Talens, Valente, and Baumeister to keep moving forward.
HerseyCoach: Shannon Barrett (6th year)
Key losses: Mackenzie Kamysz
Varsity gymnasts: Autumn Evans (sr.), Taylor Wooley (FR.), Nina Bailitz (FR.), Elise Forsline (FR.).
Outlook: Hersey will miss Kamysz, who qualified for the state meet each of her four seasons and finished eighth on the floor at last season's state meet. The Huskies finished eighth in the MSL last season and will offer a young team this year. Evans joins the team this year and will be looking to make a mark on the beam. Wooley, who is currently injured, also has shown promise.
ProspectCoach: Monica Donner (first year).
Key losses: Rosie Barros, Jane Williams, Stephanie Sullo, Kaitlyn Granato, and Erica Schickerling.
Varsity gymnasts: Marina Andric (so.), Julia Fasick (Jr), Catherine Grabowy (FR.), Kaiya Koyanagi (FR.), Naiya Rooks (so.), Jillian Schmit (Jr), Olivia Tader (so.), Alexandra Zeppos (sr.).
Outlook: Tader finished fourth in the all-around in helping the Knights to a fifth-place finish in the MSL. The sophomore is the top returning gymnast for the Knights this season and will be one of the top gymnasts in the MSL. Schmit also was a big contributor for a Prospect team that won the MSL East title last season. Andric, Koyanagi, and Grabowy will look to make an immediate impact.
Rolling MeadowsCoach: Michael Costa
Varsity gymnasts: Nicole Kane (Jr), Jenna Byrne (Jr), Roula Zervos (so.), Katie Reich (sr.), Katie Mcgugh (so.), Abby Adams (FR.).
Outlook: Kane will anchor the attack for a Mustang team that shows plenty of promise. Kane missed a chunk of last season due to a broken fibula, but returned to take first on bars at the MSL meet and continued her momentum in the state meet culminating with a third-place medal on bars. She will be a fun one to watch this season. Meadows finished ninth in the MSL last season but should make a big jump this season and contend with Buffalo Grove and Prospect for the East division title. Adams will also be looking to add to the Mustangs' attack.
WheelingCoach: Rachel Wheeler (first year).
Varsity gymnasts: Jessica Stavros (sr.), Anna Emery (sr.), Emily Lucas (sr.), Margot Massat (sr.), Emily Zajac (so.), Maydelin Alfaro (FR.).
Outlook: Stavros is the top returning gymnast for the Wildcats. Lucas also adds experience to a veteran Wildcat team that finished 12th in the MSL last season.
Mid-Suburban West
BarringtonCoach: Jason Loeffler (22nd year).
Varsity gymnasts: Lauren Tenbrunsel (Jr), Alana Riemenschneider (Jr), Ashley Diaz (Jr), Brooke Husby (so.), Sydney Goodman (sr.), Sarah Ruesch (sr.), Jade Moranetz (so.), Natalie Franzese, Lilly Kane (so.), Zoe Zakson (Jr.).
Outlook: There are plenty of familiar faces for a Fillies squad that finished third in the MSL, hit a season high 141.375 in taking second at the Maine South regional and advanced to the Hoffman Estates sectional. Tenbrunsel will pace a deep Fillies attack. The junior qualified to the state meet on beam last season and also finished sixth in the all-around at the MSL meet. Ruesch was a force on the vault last season and Husby finished third on the floor at the MSL meet. Moranetz has also improved. The Fillies will compete with Fremd and Palatine for the MSL title and should contend for a state berth.
ConantCoach: Anthony Avelia (fourth year).
Key losses: Bailey Bloom.
Varsity gymnasts: Danielle Smith (so.), Sarah Taucher (so.), Lea Faouaz (so.), Mikaela Kaminski (FR.), Julia Betts (Jr.).
Outlook: Conant certainly finished off last season strong by taking fourth in the MSL, taking first at its regional, and adding a fourth-place finish at the Hoffman Estates sectional. But the Cougars took a hit in losing Bloom, who secured a fifth place state medal on beam in 2017, to graduation. The Cougars also will be without Kennedy O'Connor who will be concentrating on club gymnastics this year. Last year O'Connor earned a fourth-place place medal on beam. The Cougars will lean on Smith this season and the sophomore is looking to build on a promising freshman season. Betts also adds experience and will contribute to a Cougar attack that should improve as the season progresses. Faouaz is also looking to make an immediate impact.
FremdCoach: Kacey Kronforst (second year).
Key losses: Melanie Ng, Abby Moran.
Varsity gymnasts: Cate Banzen (FR.), Gianna Christodoulopoulos (sr.), Ella Gray (FR.), Sam Shirmer (Jr), Katie Vessell (Jr), Annika Waller (sr.), Kate Watson (sr.).
Outlook: The defending MSL champions will miss the contributions of Ng and Moran, but have plenty of returning talent to make another run not only for an MSL title but also a trip to the state meet. Christodoulopoulos (all-around, bars) and Waller (bars) both were state qualifiers last season and will return this year. Christodoulopoulos had a breakout season last year and will anchor the Vikings this season. Shirmer has also been big contributor for the Vikings and is always a threat on vault. Vessell missed last season with a back injury but returns this season to add to the Vikings' depth and Watson was a solid contributor last year. The Vikings have all the pieces to make a deep postseason run this year.
Hoffman EstatesCoach: David Calisch (18th year).
Varsity gymnasts: Kinga Brudz (sr.), Jessica Holt (sr.), Olivia Biggs (Jr), Charlee Campos (Jr), Hunter Freye (Jr), Paige Biggs (FR.), Sol Serratos (FR.), Elyssa Wuerffel (FR.)
Outlook: Hoffman Estates had a big season last year finishing sixth in the MSL and the Hawks are looking to keep building this season. Unfortunately their top gymnast from last season, Karli Ryan, will not be competing. She finished second in the all-around at the MSL meet but suffered a torn ACL at regionals ending her season. The Hawks will also be without senior Abby Fuscone who is recovering from shoulder surgery. Campos will be looking to fill in the gaps for a young Hawk team that will rely on Wuerffel, Serratos, and Paige Biggs, who are all freshmen. Olivia Biggs, Freye, Brudz, and Holt will lend experience.
PalatineCoach: Terry Theobald (37 years).
Key losses: Abby Amato, Callee Aikman, Christina DiGioia.
Varsity gymnasts: Jess Streepy (sr.), Kristen Ure (sr.), Alyssa Eckels (so.), Sam Morgensen (so.), Elly Nilsen (so.), Rachel Van De Cotte (so.), Brianna Pemrose, Josie Waddington (FR.).
Outlook: Palatine certainly looked impressive last season in taking second at the MSL meet and qualifying to the Hoffman Estates sectional. The Pirates will miss the contributions of last year's seniors, but have plenty of pieces to fill the gaps and once again make an extended postseason run. Eckels made an immediate impact in her freshman year and will be one of the top all-around gymnasts in the MSL this season. Streepy and Ure offer plenty of experience and will add to the Pirates' attack. Nilsen also showed potential in her freshman year. The Pirates are also excited about their incoming freshmen who should help boost their score. It should be a good battle between Palatine, Barrington, and Fremd for the MSL title.
Schaumburg
Coach: Amber Mirski (second year).
Key losses: Mikayla Vogt.
Varsity gymnasts: Alexis Rothmeyer (FR.), Delaney Nash (so.), CJ Kulthprathipanja (sr.), Meglan O'Mera (so.), Rashini Jayawardena (sr.), Mallorie Page (FR.), Danielle Reyna (so.), Nikki Kolodziej (Jr.).
Outlook: The Saxons will miss the contributions from Vogt, who was a state qualifier on vault and floor last season. This year they will lean on Nash to pace their attack. Rothmeyer has also shown potential and is looking to make an impact for a Saxons team that finished 10th in the MSL last season.
Central Suburban North
Maine West Coach: Amanda Harrison (seventh year).
Key losses: Christa Niewinski, Rachel Matthews.
Varsity gymnasts: Megan Schore (sr.), Gabby Demma (sr.), Rayna Davis (sr.), Lily Sanchez (Jr), Maribel Rodriguez (Jr), Emily Divelbiss (so.).
Outlook: Schore was the anchor for Maine West last season, aiding the Warriors' fifth-place finish in the CSL North. Schore had a strong postseason run culminating with a state qualification on the floor. This year the senior will be looking to continue her momentum from last year. Rodriguez is hoping to make an immediate impact for a veteran Warriors team.
WEST SUBURBAN GOLD
Leyden Coach: Jennifer Thomas (seventh year).
Varsity gymnasts: Lily Dodgers (FR.), Faustyna Karpiesiuk (Jr), Patrycja Karpiesiuk (FR.), Jess Torres (so.), Alexis Weiner (Jr.).
Outlook: Faustyna Karpiesiuk will offer experience for the Eagles. Torres and Weiner also return and will aid the attack. Dodgers has shown plenty of potential and could make an immediate impact.