Northwest/Scouting the Lake Park sectional
By Michael Eaken
Daily Herald Correspondent
When: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Lake Park East Campus
Automatic team qualifiers: Prairie Ridge Co-op (147.35), Fremd (144.525), Prospect (141.825), Palatine (140.85)
At-large team qualifiers: Barrington (139.575), Conant (138.475)
Top individual event regional scores: Vault: Riley Mahoney (PR Co-op) 9.625; Bars: Riley Mahoney (PR Co-op) 9.575, Beam: Nicole Kuksuk (Pal) 9.525; Floor: Riley Mahoney (PR Co-op) 9.5; All-around: Rachel Underwood (PR Co-op) 37.325.
What you need to know: Sectional team champion and top five gymnasts in each event, including all-around, will advance as automatic qualifiers for the IHSA state meet at Palatine High School on Feb. 17-18.
Outlook: Fremd is the top seed at Lake Park, but No. 2 seed Prairie Ridge Co-op made quite a statement at the Schaumburg regional. The Wolves recorded the third-highest score in regional action (147.35) behind only Carmel (153.225) and Stevenson (148.125). Freshmen Riley Mahoney and Rachel Underwood, both Cary-Grove students, power the Wolves attack. Mahoney enters with the top regional score for the Lake Park section on the vault, bars, and floor. Prairie Ridge’s only blemish was on the beam, where it recorded three falls.
Fremd was solid in the regional, except for an uncharacteristic floor performance. The Vikings recorded 5 falls on the floor and scored a 33.875, which won’t cut it on Tuesday and the Vikings know it. Junior Shannon Lemajuer and senior Stephanie Uhrich pace a deep Fremd squad. The Vikings also received a lift from Sydney Plichta and Chrissy Radochonski, both freshmen, at the regional meet.
Prospect, Palatine, Barrington, and Conant will also be in the six-team field. Senior Lauren Johnson and sophomore Gianna Scala lead a Prospect team looking to get back to the 143s. Palatine hit a season high in winning its regional, and junior Nicole Kuksuk will be looking help the Pirates climb a little higher on Tuesday. Senior Tiffany Persels (9.5 floor at regional) leads a young Barrington squad that has made steady improvement all season. Junior Sarah Starzynski, sophomore Bri Bibel and sophomore Meicie Bennett have elevated Conant this season.
Individual alert: Senior Jordyn and junior Abby Madden are individual performers for St. Edward. Jordyn will be looking to make her fourth state appearance, while Abby, who made to it to the Saturday finals on floor last season, will be seeking her third straight trip. Another individual to keep an eye on is Jacobs freshman Allison Riedel, who made quite an impression at the Fremd regional by taking first in the all-around.
The Wolves Effect: Prairie Ridge Co-op freshman Riley Mahoney, freshman Rachel Underwood and senior Nikki Novak really put it together at the Schaumburg regional. The three Wolves should have a major impact.
Impact Gymnasts:
Nicole Kuksuk (Jr., Palatine): Kuksuk had an outstanding beam performance at the Palatine regional and has hit consistent marks in the other three events.
Bri Bibel (Soph., Conant): Bibel has put together two solid back-to-back performances at the Mid-Suburban League meet and Conant regional. Bibel, despite dealing with her back pain, seems to be peaking at the right time.
Lauren Johnson (Sr., Prospect): Johnson has flown under the radar for most of the season, but is as consistent as they come.
Gianna Scala (Soph., Prospect): Scala hit an amazing 9.775 on the floor at the MSL meet. She had a fall on the floor at the regional but must be considered the favorite on this event at sectionals.
Stephanie Uhrich (Sr., Fremd): Uhrich’s solid performance at the MSL meet vaulted her to the all-around title. She is looking for a repeat of that performance at sectionals.
Shannon Lemajuer (Jr., Fremd): Lemajuer seems to have been missing one piece or another at the past few meets, but is definitely capable of pulling out the all-around title.
Amelia Rafferty (Soph., Elk Grove): Rafferty is also an all-around threat and has put together the complete package this season.