Fremd keeps rolling
So what is Fremd going to do for an encore?
Last year the Vikings won the IHSA girls gymnastics state title behind Mary Burke, who capped off a spectacular career by sweeping the individual events and the all-around title.
Burke is now dazzling the crowds at Missouri, but Vikings' fans shouldn't fret because they still have plenty of talent.
Senior Tori Sarantakis powered Fremd to an opening night Mid-Suburban League crossover victory with the Vikings defeating host Prospect 140.75-136.70.
"We had a lot of the first-meet jitters," said Fremd coach Jim Guest. "But there were a lot of encouraging signs."
Such as the performance by Sarantakis, who won the all-around (36.55) and took first on the floor (9.45) and beam (9.0).
"We just want to show everyone we're still good," said Sarantakis, who also finished third on vault (9.3) and bars (8.8). "We're going to work as hard as ever and do the best we can all season. Hopefully it will turn out good in the end."
Junior Caitlin Golota took first on the bars (9.2) and finished second in the all-around (35.45) for Fremd.
Golota also took second on the floor (8.75) and beam (8.75), while sophomore Alyssia Van Duch took second on the vault (9.35).
"It's all about the team," added Sarantakis, "This meet kind of shows where we're at, and we're going to keep on working."
Prospect also made quite an impression on the opening night, with junior Katie Colmone winning the vault (9.55) and finishing second on the bars (9.05).
"Great score," said first-year Prospect coach Julian Basler, whose team improved almost 12 points from last year's opening meet score. "We have unlimited potential this season."
Senior Emily Rossdeutcher aided the Knights by finishing second on the beam (8.75).
"We've never started with a score this high before," added Rossdeutcher of the Knights' performance. "This is exactly what we needed to push us."
Throw in the performance by sophomore twins Christina and Sarah Pekar and senior Lindsay Johnson and her freshman sister Lauren and the Knights seem to be on the right track.
"Those four girls will be the difference on the team this year," added Basler.