Lake County girls gymnastics preview
Carmel Catholic
Coach: Sarah Doyle (ninth year)
Top gymnasts lost: Catherine Gas
Top returning gymnasts: Seniors Amber Mirski, Lauren Pytel, juniors Dani Clement, Lauren Bowles, sophomores Kristin Mirski and Jen Zeller.
Newcomers: Freshman Sarah Cohen-Smith and Kari Osowski.
Outlook: Carmel has experience on its side and is trying to take another step forward this season: The Corsairs want to get one of the state trophies in the state meet.
"Our experience factor is one of our strengths," Carmel coach Sarah Doyle said. "We missed a trophy last year by a few tenth's and it gives us a better perspective of what we want. We're real determined about what we want this year."
Libertyville
Coach: John Taylor (first year)
Top gymnasts lost: Amanda Winn
Top returning gymnasts: Junior Leah Herchenbach, sophomores Sarah Chaitoff, Tori Metcalf, Lindsay Schweitzer.
Newcomers: Freshman Jenna Dunsing
Outlook: Libertyville maybe on the young side, but don't count them out.
"We're a young team with a lot of promise," Liberytville coach John Taylor said. "We've got a lot to learn, but we've got a couple of girls (Herchenbach and Metcalf) who reached sectionals and state last year. I expect experience will help us out in the long run."
Mundelein
Coach: Nancy Toland (10th year)
Top gymnasts lost: Kelsey Teegen
Top returning gymnasts: Seniors Alyssa Corso, Jenny Ranck, Ellen Sagendorph, junior Emily Tylka and sophomore Nicole Badosky.
Newcomers: Freshman Angel Vergis.
Outlook: The Mustangs are on the rise, trying to get better while rebuilding.
"Team-wise we're looking for improvement," Mundelein coach Namcy Toland said. "We're going to fight our way through the sectionals. We've got a number of seniors with underclassman that have been together for a while. Expect us to grow as the season progresses."
Stevenson
Coach: Judy Harwood (20th year)
Top gymnasts lost: Shana Minning (Michigan - soccer), Chelsea Seplowin (Illinois State), Stephanie Wojton (Winona)
Top returning gymnasts: Seniors Catlin Pagano, Lauren Patterrson, junior Carlie Dobkin, sophomores Ali Castriano and Theresa Wojton.
Newcomers: Junior Amanda Hollub.
Outlook: Stevenson won the state championship last February and graduated three outstanding gymnasts - Shana Manning, Chlesea Seplowin and Stephanie Wojton.
Now the Patriots will have to rebuild - or maybe reload. "We've got the potential to be good," Stevenson coach Judy Harwood said.. "We do have a lot of experience returning. We should be one of the top 10 teams in state by the end of the season."
The Patriots get Lauren Patterson back; she missed all of last year while recovering from ankle surgery.
Vernon Hills
Coach: Denise Caton (sixth year)
Top returning gymnasts: Seniors Fallon Faia, Sonya Peterson, Carley Umphress, junior Jessica Echales.
Newcomers: Freshman Dana Alsamsam, Amber Egan, Julia Krugman and Mira Saeh.
Outlook: The Cougars get experience back with senior Fallon Faia returning from injury late last season.
"Fallon (Faia) is returning as a leader for the team and the other girls," Vernon Hills coach Denise Caton sad. 'My expectations are improvements from last year as a team, if we can pick up at the end of last year and go up there as a team."
Warren
Coach: Christy Worth (second year)
Top gymnasts lost: Shana Burnell (injury) and Kayla Hauser (injury)
Top returning gymnasts: Seniors Kim Gotlund, Katie Vovolka, junior Allison Brenner, sophomore Alison Rossman.
Newcomers: Junior Kelci Schultz and freshman Becky Stochl.
Outlook: The return of Kim Gotlund for her senior year makes Warren a state-contending team once again. It doesn't hurt that some other pieces are coming together.
"We're expected to be a top-performing team once again," Warren coach Christy Worth said. "We've got a strong base of girls and we should be back where we used to be."
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