Lake Zurich surprises the field at Fremd regional

Lake Zurich's girls gymnastics team did something that no other gymnastics team has been able to do in the last 26 years.

The Bears, who are just in the second year of their program, knocked off Fremd Thursday 139.20 to 138.925 at the Fremd regional meet in Palatine.

"Our girls have worked really hard," Lake Zurich coach Chelsie Groteleuschen said. "Fremd is a great team and a great program."

Lake Zurich led Fremd by .6 of a point heading into the final rotation. The Bears were on the beam and Fremd was on the floor.

"We have been working hard to stay on the beam," Groteleuschen said. "Beam will make or break a team. We have been working on some tactical ways to approach beam and be confident and they showed that today."

Lake Zurich counted just one fall, while Fremd uncharacteristicly struggled on the floor and the Vikings were not able to make up the difference.

"They outperformed us," Fremd coach Kacey Kronforst said. "Our hat is off to Lake Zurich."

The Bears were led by Carly Trebac, who was second in the all-around with a 36.125. She also tied for first on the vault with a 9.425, won the floor with a 9.15, was sixth on the bars and a strong second on the beam.

"We knew it would come down to the beam," said Trebac, who was last up for the Bears on the beam and finished with a 9.00. "We just went in with the mindset that we had to take it and be confident. It was a little nerve-wracking, but I stayed on."

Trebac was backed up nicely by teammates Joanna Topa, who was third in the all-around with a 35.70. Topa also was an automatic qualifier to next Thursday's sectional meet at Conant in all four events.

Kelsey Rothas also had a nice meet for the Bears. She finished sixth in the all-around with a 34.40 and qualified on the vault. Isabella Palmer, Jane Fabbrini and Julia McDevitt also came up big for the Bears.

Fremd will most likely be one of the two at-large team qualifiers for sectionals next week. The Vikings own the top at-large score with the final regional being held Friday at Maine South.

Gianna Christoduolopoulos did well for the Vikings, tying on the vault for the regional title with a 9.425 and winning the beam with a 9.10. She was second on the bars (8.95) and fourth in the all-around with a 35.525.

Katie Vessel was fifth in the all-around with a 34.525. She also tied for second on the floor (8.95) with teammate Kate Watson. Annika Walker also qualified for next week on the bars. Sam Shirmer, who is nursing an injured knee and competed in just two events, still was able to qualify on the bars where she was fifth.

Schaumburg freshman. Alexis Rothmeyer continued the evening of surprises by winning the all-around with 36.55. Rothmeyer tied for the regional title on the bars with a 9.375. She was third on the beam (8.975) and vault (9.35) and fifth on the floor (8.85).

"I am really proud of my vault and bars," Rothmeyer said. "I was a little nervous, but I was able to calm down. I just thought of practice and my teammates and that helped."

Schaumburg finished third with a 131.775. Along with Rothmeyer, the Saxons got a solid performance from Delaney Nash, who was seventh in the all-around with a 33.925 and was seventh on the floor, eighth on the bars and ninth on the vault and beam.

"Alexis had a great meet" Schaumburg coach Amber Mirski said. "The team is looking good. They made some upgrades throughout the year. I can only ask for them to give their all and that's what they did."

Elk Grove finished with a 130.925. The Grenadiers were led by Jessica Hadler, who was an automatic qualifier on the beam with her fourth-place finish and score of 8.775. Jill Valente finished sixth on the floor and Katie Talens was seventh on vault. Both have an opportunity to qualify for sectionals as at-large gymnasts.

"The girls put a lot of pressure on themselves," Elk Grove coach Amy Rivera said. "They know how this works and they know what is at stake. A lot of them were able to put it together. Hopefully they can squeak through."