Scouting DuPage County boys gymnastics
Top local teams: Addison Trail, Downers Grove North, Glenbard North, Hinsdale Central, Wheaton co-op, York.
Top meets: District 87 Invite at Glenbard North, March 11; Krupicka Invite at Hinsdale Central, March 19; Hinsdale Central at York, March 24, Ralph Krupke Invite at Lake Park, March 26; Vic Agliano Invite at Rolling Meadows, March 27; Lake Park Invite, April 16; Ken Scorza Invitational at York, April 17; Dave Donaldson Invite at Wheaton North, April 17; Downers Grove North at York, April 19; DuPage Valley Conference Meet at Naperville Central, April 23; West Suburban Silver Meet at Glenbard West, April 30,
Top gymnasts: John Baldwin (Glenbard West, Jr., all-around), Eric Bando (Lake Park, Sr., still rings), Mike Brackman (Wheaton co-op, Jr., all-around), Mark Ciesielski (Wheaton co-op, So., all-around), Nick Criel (York, Sr., all-around), A.J. Distefano (Glenbard South, Sr., vault, still rings, parallel bars, high bar, floor exercise), Tom DiCarlo (Glenbard South, Jr., all-around), Mike Dieterle (Wheaton co-op, Sr., all-around), Tim Drahokoupil (York, Sr., all-around) Andrew Fairbanks (Neuqua Valley, Fr., all-around), Darren Fill (Wheaton Co-op, Jr., all-around), Matt Foster (Addison Trail, Fr., all-around), Jake Hartmann (Neuqua Valley, Sr., all-around), Kurt Hodges (Naperville North, Sr., parallel bars, high bar, pommel horse, still rings), Kirk Jackson (Glenbard South, Sr., all-around), Shan Jafri (Wheaton co-op, Sr., pommel horse), Ryan Kennedy (Glenbard North, Jr., all-around), Adam Kotel (Downers Grove South, Jr., vault, floor exercise), Ryan Kujawa (Downers Grove South, Fr., all-around), Aaron Laniosz (Hinsdale Central, Sr., high bar, parallel bars), Tyler Leahy (Hinsdale Central, So., all-around), Gianni Levato (Addison Trail, Sr., still rings), Alfonso Lopez-Yanez (Hinsdale Central, Sr., parallel bars), Danny Marshall (Downers Grove South, Sr., vault, parallel bars, floor exercise), Harrison Meyer (Glenbard West, Jr., all-around), Will O'Donnell (Hinsdale Central, So., all-around), John Mixen (Naperville Central, Jr., vault, floor exercise), Matt Rakow (Downers Grove North, Jr., all-around), Gerry Riemer (Wheaton co-op, Sr., parallel bars, pommel horse), Dave Rynearson (Naperville Central, Jr., vault, floor exercise), Luke Schubert (Downers Grove North, Jr., all-around), Kyle Smith (Glenbard West, Jr., all-around), Jesus Soto (Glenbard North, Jr., all-around), Caleb Strejc (York, Sr., all-around), Billy Suta (Naperville North, So., all-around), Mike Sparapany (Downers Grove South, Jr., still rings, parallel bars), Jared Vandenack (Glenbard North, So., all-around), Luke Wychocki (Downers Grove North, So., all-around).
Outlook: Although Wheaton co-op's Tim Krueger moved on to the University of Iowa, Downers Grove North lost Doug Rybar to graduation, defending state champion Glenbard North bid farewell to Ryan Vandenack, Tyler Arl and Tyler DeAnda, and York is finally without a Carmona on its roster, all four respective schools are expected to once again be among the top teams in the state this spring.
Once again Wheaton co-op boasts a roster of outstanding gymnasts. All-arounders Darren Fill, Mike Brackman and sophomore Mark Ciesielski lead the way for Wheaton. Mike Dieterle may be used as an all-arounder or multi-event specialist while senior specialists Gerry Riemer and Shan Jafri will play important roles. "I really expect for us to challenge for a medal at the state meet," Wheaton coach Chad Downie said. "Brackman has put in a lot of work this off-season, and Darren is coming back stronger and as a more developed athlete, so I'm expecting really good things from them." Wheaton finished fourth last year.
Glenbard North will try to defend its state title with new coach Michael Crissie, who was an assistant coach for the Panthers last year and from 2002-2005. "We're definitely looking to return to the state tournament," Crissie said. "With Ryan (Kennedy) and Jesus (Soto) we have a very good 1-2, and if Jared (Vandenack) and the other guys can pick up the slack we should do pretty well." Watch for freshman John Cummins, a two- to three-event specialist, to play an important role this spring for the Panthers as well.
Downers Grove North will miss Rybar's scores, but the Trojans have all-arounders Matt Rakow, Luke Wychocki and Luke Schubert all returning. Schubert placed eighth in the floor exercise and 15th in the all-around last season. Plus his brother, freshman John Schubert, is expected to contribute immediately. "We're hoping to be competitive again this year," Downers Grove North coach Al Bekkedal said. "The goal is to see if we can make it to state for the fourth year in a row and I think with a little work we should be able to get in the 150s."
York also has a new coach as Steve Geuss takes over for a program that's won a state title and not finished less than third in the state in the past three years. The Dukes will be led by seniors Nick Criel, Tim Drahokoupi and Caleb Strejc, who placed second on parallel bars and tied for fifth in the floor exercise in 2009. With so much experience back, another strong season should be expected in Elmhurst. "We're going to do the best we can," Geuss said. "We've got those three guys back, but we last two big guys too. We're going to push Nick (Criel) to be an all-arounder and our third scorer."
Naperville North and Naperville Central have plenty of gymnasts signed for this season, but how successful each team can be remains a big question. Look for Addison Trail to enjoy a rejuvenation with the arrival of freshman phenom Matt Foster. His immediate contributions along with a solid core of juniors and seniors pitching in could make the Blazers the surprise team of 2010. "If we can keep everyone healthy this year, we should be able to turn some heads," Addison Trail coach Mike Galfi said. "Our goal is realistically to win conference and take that momentum into the sectionals this year."
Glenbard East, Lake Park, Glenbard South and Glenbard West will have rebuilding years, although each team has at least one gymnast who could advance to the state finals. The Rams were dealt quite a big blow when they learned Scott Wiedmeyer, who placed in the top five in four events in the state finals last year, wouldn't be returning. Tom DiCarlo and A.J. Distefano are expected to be the team's top two gymnasts.
Glenbard West has been a premier program in the state, but getting to the state finals for the 12th time in the past 15 years is extremely unlikely. "We're rebuilding," Hilltoppers coach Frank Novakowski said. "A lot of sophomores got varsity experience in sectionals last year, so they now know what to expect, but we're very young with only one senior." The Lancers' top returnee is still rings specialist Eric Bando, a state qualifier a season ago. "We're very young and inexperienced," Lake Park coach Keith Matune said. "It's going to be a learning year, and we have a lot of young guys we're going to be grooming. We really like the nucleus we have."
Lincoln-Way co-op's Isaac Kruspe, Neuqua Valley senior Jake Hartmann and Strejc at York are the only three returning gymnasts who finished in the top 10 in the all-around last season. It certainly opens things up this spring. Freshman Andrew Fairbanks will also represent the Wildcats, but Jack Boyle (fourth in all-around in 2009) and Timmy Kosanda (fourth in floor exercise in 2009) will not. "Jake will be very good this year as he's at the top of the club program," Neuqua Valley coach Paul Evatt said. "Andrew is at the bottom end of the club program but should also be very strong." - Chris Walker