Girls gymnastics state preview
When: Today: session I (bars/vault) 12:30 p.m.; session II (beam/floor/all-around title) 6:30 p.m. Saturday: session III (individual event and team finals) 6:30 p.m.
Where: Palatine High School
Automatic team qualifiers: Carmel (147.95), Lyons (146.65), Glenbard West (146.525), Fremd (146.075).
At-large team qualifiers: Prairie Ridge/District 155 co-op (146.375), Glenbard North (145.125), Lake Forest (144.85), Hinsdale Central (144.475).
Team Outlook: Tight is the word for the team race. Five teams hit above a 146 mark in qualifying for the state meet, with Carmel leading the pack. Fremd has won 19 state trophies, including 12 state titles, and will be in the hunt again. Senior Caitlin Golota, junior Maegan Wochinski and sophomore Stephanie Uhrich qualified in the all-around. But the flexible Vikings will also count on juniors Alyssia VanDuch and Kelsey Onesto, sophomore Elizabeth Uhrich and freshman Emily Pinderski to fill the gaps. "We all try to start off well," said Onesto, who set the tone for the Vikings at the sectionals by scoring 9.325 on the balance beam. "Then everybody usually tries to pick up the pace." Last year, Fremd finished one-tenth of a point behind third-place Glenbard North. This year the Vikings realize every point is going to count. "All the teams are really even, so it's really nerve-racking," said Wochinski, who finished third in the all-around at the Schaumburg sectional. "Whoever hits is going to come out on top." The Vikings have used a team effort this season without relying on one individual performer. Look for them to use the same approach at state. Beam always plays a pivotal role in the state race - and it should be no different this year. "We really have to work on our beam," said the Vikings' Stephanie Uhrich. "Beam is a strong event for us, if we stick it and are consistent." Fremd hasn't reached its potential yet, which is a good sign. If they hit this weekend, the Vikings will need to make room for another trophy.
Top individual events sectional scores
Vault: Jenny Covers (Prairie Ridge) 9.875; uneven bars: Kristi Carling (Lyons) 9.625; balance beam: Alyssa Cruz (Addison Trail) 9.575; floor: Amber Mirski (Carmel) 9.675; all-around: Alyssa Cruz (Addison Trail) 38.225.
Area individual qualifiers
Vault: Abby Madden (St. Edward), Jordyn Madden (St. Edward), Maegan Wochinski (Fremd), Amy Burke (Wheeling), Linda Dunne (Buffalo Grove), Jenna Urbaniak (Leyden), Hannah Heider (Barrington).
Outlook: Freshman Abby Madden (9.475) and sophomore Jordyn Madden (9.45) went 1-2 at the Schaumburg sectional. Last year Jordyn finished eighth at state. Covers is the defending state champion.
Uneven parallel bars: Ashley Miller (Schaumburg), Katie Colmone (Prospect), Caitlin Golota (Fremd), Abby Madden (St. Edward), Linda Dunne (Buffalo Grove), Brooke Shimon (Schaumburg)
Outlook: Covers finished second at state last year on bars and will be a threat along with Carling. Miller, Colmone and Golota went 1-2-3 at the Schaumburg sectional and the three are looking to advance to Saturday's finals. Keep an eye out for the Tkatchev release by Miller.
Balance beam: Linda Dunne (Buffalo Grove), Kelsey Onesto (Fremd), Maegan Wochinski (Fremd), Caitlin Golota (Fremd), Katie Colmone (Prospect), Abby Madden (St. Edward), Khrystyna Lychagina (Leyden).
Outlook: Stevenson sophomore Ali Castriano is the top returner on beam, finishing second as a freshman. Dunne has been very consistent on beam, while Onesto came out of nowhere to take second at the Schaumburg sectional. Golota has also excelled in this event and will be a threat for a medal.
Floor exercise: Abby Madden (St. Edward), Stephanie Uhrich (Fremd), Maggie Kania (Prospect), Brooke Shimon (Schaumburg), Nicole Kuksuk (Palatine), Khrystyna Lychagina (Leyden).
Outlook: Covers is the top returner on the floor, taking second as a sophomore. This year the junior comes in with the second-best sectional mark (9.65). Shimon was a state qualifier on floor last season and is looking comfortable in this event this year. Abby Madden has an electric routine and took first at the Schaumburg sectional. Stephanie Uhrich also has had a solid year. Keep an eye on freshmen Kania and Kuksuk.
All-around: Abby Madden (St. Edward), Maegan Wochinski (Fremd), Linda Dunne (Buffalo Grove), Khrystyna Lychagina (Leyden), Ashley Miller (Schaumburg), Caitlin Golota (Fremd), Jordyn Madden (St. Edward), Brooke Shimon (Schaumburg), Stephanie Uhrich (Fremd), Katie Colmone (Prospect).
Outlook: A very interesting field. Warren senior Kim Gotlund enters with the second best sectional mark (38.20) behind Cruz, but this field is loaded with Carmel's Jen Zeller, Stevenson Castriano, Lake Forest Kylie Carlson and at-large qualifier and defending state champion Jenny Covers. Don't discount Abby Madden - the freshman has shown nerves of steel in the postseason. Wochinski is peaking at the right time. Miller and Dunne could be lurking in the shadows.