BG's Dunne is far from done

Linda Dunne has accomplished quite a bit in her first two years for Buffalo Grove in gymnastics.

But the Bison junior is only getting started.

Dunne was a state qualifier in both her freshman and sophomore year, she is in the top 10 for every event on the Buffalo Grove record board, and she enters this season as one of the top all-around gymnasts in the Mid Suburban League.

"She's competed all her life so she knows what to expect," said BG coach Stephanie Schrader of her star junior. "Freshman year she came onto the scene extremely consistent and that's still there."

In her freshman year, Dunne qualified for state on the beam and in the all-around. Dunne just missed qualifying for the finals on beam by finishing .025 behind the 10th-place finisher.

Last year Dunne returned to the state tournament, qualifying in the all-around, beam, bar and vault.

"Freshman year it was kind of go see what it's all about, kind of testing it out," said Dunne of her state experience. "Sophomore year I made it with teammate Christine Douthwaite, it was nice having a teammate."

Dunne has already made a mark at BG as her top scores on the beam (9.5), vault (9.55), bars (9.45), floor (9.375) and all-around (37.22) all rank on the top 10 in school history.

"The program has gained a lot of respect with her success and Christine's (Douthwaite) before her," said Schrader. "It's meant so much."

When asked what her favorite event was, Dunne did not hesitate in mentioning the beam, which she has grown to like.

"When I was little I definitely didn't like it," said Dunne, "But once you get better at something you learn to like it."

And Dunne has definitely excelled on the beam.

"She can make corrections mid-trick," said Schrader of Dunne's flexibility. "There have been plenty of times I've seen her do her flip-flop, flip-flop; and I thought she was going to be way off. But upside down she makes an adjustment and stays on the beam - good air sense."

This year Dunne will be counted on to be a leader for a Bison squad that hopes to challenge for the MSL East title.

"Coming in as a freshman I had all the seniors above me," said Dunne. "It's definitely different now. I'm trying to become more of a role model."

Schrader could see a change in Dunne at last year's Barrington regional. The then-sophomore was not having one of her best meets with falls on her first two events - the bar and beam. But she came back to secure her career-best mark on the floor and ended up medaling in each of the events.

"That gave her confidence, 'I can do this,'" said Schrader of Dunne's composure. "She realized she doesn't have to get so uptight or nervous."

Dunne enters the season as one of the top returning all-around gymnasts in the MSL. She has also performed in the classroom as a member of the National Honor Society.

Dunne is now eyeing the next step, which would be qualifying for the state meet finals and relying on her first two years of experience.

"Any experience will help me and there is always room for improvement," added Dunne. "Hopefully I'll make it to finals."