U-46 co-op gymnastics team forging strong bond
Just as if they were learning about Cuba while having some food in history class, gymnasts from Bartlett, Elgin, Larkin, South Elgin and Streamwood are able to compete in a sport they love while simultaneously making new friends.
The U-46 co-op girls gymnastics team isn't just unique in that as many as five schools can feed into the squad, but that friendships that never would've been made have developed because of it.
"I think what's really cool is watching them be friends," U-46 co-op coach Mary Kate Dieter said. "There are friendships that have literally grown that wouldn't if the co-op didn't exist. It's not really about winning, but about kids from Streamwood becoming friends with kids from South Elgin who would not have met if this sport, this team, didn't exist."
U-46 co-op finished third during Thursday's quadrangular at Oswego with 123.35 points. Glenbard East, coming off its first state appearance, posted a season-high 141.45 and was followed by runner-up Oswego co-op's 138.75. Geneseo also competed with a 114.9.
"The team is really great and we have some pretty lit routines this year," U-46 co-op's Frannie Kuzyk, a senior at South Elgin, said. "All of us are really close together. As a senior we kind of have to lead the freshmen and sophomores. It's different for those who came from club so we have to prepare them for lower scores because of the different scoring methods and we're not as serious. We get them prepared for a fun and happy environment."
High school gymnastics is unique in that it's common to see a varsity team field a team with members from all classes. That presents a different dynamic when you have a freshman just getting her feet wet in high school contributing on a team with seniors who drive and are less than a year away from college. And once you consider that your teammates are from different schools, there certainly can be challenges, but U-46 co-op has embraced them.
"It's really not that hard because people who drive are open to driving others and I'll pick them up from school and we'll chill in my car and have fun there," Kuzyk, who had a 7.9 on floor, said. "Some teammates have classes together and bond there and we hang outside of gymnastics and we're already planning team bondings during winter break, with Secret Santa and going out to lunch after practice."
Sophomore Madi Aycock from Bartlett had the team's top finish, taking fourth on floor with an 8.8. She also had a 7.7 on beam.
"My floor wasn't my best but I competed a new skill," she said. "It's cool when you do something new that you haven't competed before. I did a front full today on floor which was new. Even if you fall you still think, 'Wow, I did it,' and that's an accomplishment and you're proud of yourself."
Other scores for U-46 co-op included South Elgin's Kallie Christopherson (8.3 vault, 7,4 beam, 6.8 bars), Amelia Lis (7.8 vault, 7.1 floor, 6.3 beam), Zoe Lee (8.1 bars and floor, 7.2 beam) and Nikeata Schuler (8.5 vault, 7.3 floor), Elgin's Naomi Johnson (8.3 vault, 7.1 beam, 6.45 bars) and Larkin's Zoie Adamson (7.05 bars).
Glenbard East had a terrific night behind all-arounders Rebecca Honig (37.05), Kelsey Donovan (36.9) and Erin Donovan (35.4). Honig won vault and floor and Erin Donovan edged her older sister for top honors on bars.
"We have been working hard to tighten up our routines to increase our team score," Rams coach Jessica Bugajsky said. "It paid off tonight."
The Rams will get even better when junior Kali Kartheiser, an all-state honoree a season ago, returns to action.
Oswego co-op freshman Emily Thomas dazzled on beam, edging Honig's bid for a third event title, 9.2 to 9.1.