Healed trio set for postseason
The girls gymnastics season got off to a rather inauspicious start for Fremd's Caitlin Golota, Prospect's Katie Colmone and Schaumburg's Brooke Shimon.
All three were being counted on to lift their respective teams this season, but the three Mid-Suburban League stars were grounded early by injuries.
But Golota, Colmone and Shimon came on strong the past week and now have positioned themselves well for a high-flying postseason.
Fremd's list of past all-around gymnasts has included state medalists Holly Reichard, Mary Burke and Tori Sarantakis. Golota was in line to take over the reigns this season.
But Golota dealt with injuries to both ankles last season, including her left before the regional meet, which wiped out the remainder of her postseason.
The ankle injuries limited Golota to only two events, the bars and beam, for the early part of this season, but the senior has steadily worked herself back into the vault rotation for the Vikings.
"It's been difficult for her," said Fremd coach Jim Guest of Golota, who finished fourth at the MSL meet in the all-around last season. "She knows how to do the skills, but we've had to scale back. But there's been no choice; we'd rather have her for three events than none."
But Golota has rebounded well, showing on Saturday at the Fremd Invite that she will be a force in the postseason. The senior took first on the bars (9.55) and beam (9.6) and took sixth on the vault (9.4) in leading the Vikings to first with 147.925.
"It was definitely frustrating in the beginning, but I've seen how my teammates have stepped up," said Golota, who has not ruled out coming back in the all-around for the postseason. "I figure if I can do three events and be healthy it's worth it in the end."
Colmone was a state qualifier on the vault last season, and was looking to lead the Knights this season.
But the senior was slowed by a back injury this season, which limited her to two events, bars and beam, early.
Colmone jumped back into the all-around at the Naperville North Invite on Jan. 9 and the senior has shown no signs of rust.
On Jan. 12, Colmone took third in the all-around (36.05) in leading Prospect to its seventh straight MSL East title.
The senior continued her momentum on Saturday at the Prospect Invite by taking second in the all-around with a career-best 37.05 in leading the Knights to second with 141.35 points.
"I'm not 100 percent, but I'm pretty decent," added Colmone of her back injury. "I'm just excited to be back in the all-around, going for it."
"She never lost her competiveness," said Prospect coach Julian Basler of his senior star. "We had a game plan to bring her along slowly and to get her back in at Naperville North. Everything went according to plan."
Shimon didn't plan on starting her junior year with an injury, after coming back from surgery on both her right and left elbow before her sophomore season.
The junior couldn't shake her misfortunes this season when a broken right ankle wiped out her preseason.
Shimon slowly made her way back, being limited to one event early. But the junior has come on strong since the beginning of the year.
"We held her back even after she received a clean bill of health," said Schaumburg coach Jami Stilling of Shimon, who did not get off crutches until the first of December. "I think she was a bit frustrated at the beginning, but now she is stronger and better than ever."
And it's showing, as Shimon took second in the all-around (36.65) last Thursday in leading Schaumburg to a season-best 141.5 points. The junior then upped her game at the Prospect Invite, taking third in the all-around (37.025) and leading the Saxons to first with a high of 142.90.
"That's the best part, every meet I'm progressing," added Shimon, who was state qualifier on the floor last season. "And that is what I hoped for."
Golota, Colmone and Shimon may have opened the season slow, but the three are primed to close with a flurry.
Math doesn't add up for Palatine: Palatine and coach Terry Theobald were very optimistic after scoring an impressive 141.3 in their opening meet in early December.
But the Pirates then lost sophomore Marissa Mallon with an ankle injury which erased her December.
Palatine was looking to add Mallon back to its lineup in early January, but the Pirates didn't count on losing two additional varsity members.
Freshman Abby Alden (broken toes) and junior Nicole Barba (broken ankle) both went down to injuries, negating the return of Mallon.
"That's not a good return," said Theobald of the uneven ratio.
Despite the injuries, freshman Nicole Kuksuk rallied the Pirates, leading them to 140.55, their second-best mark of the season, last week at Barrington.
Sophomores making their mark: Ashley Miller had a solid freshman season, but nothing can compare to the impact that she has had for Schaumburg this season.
Miller capped a spectacular regular season by winning the all-around (37.325) at the Prospect Invite on Saturday.
"From the beginning she's been a totally different gymnast this season," said Schaumburg coach Jami Stilling of her sophomore star. "Part of that is the new skills she has added. And she's having fun."
Stephanie Uhrich has had a similar rise for Fremd. The sophomore has been solid in the all-around, with one of the best floor routines in conference.
On Jan. 12, Uhrich hit a 9.55 on the floor to help the Vikings secure their fourth consecutive MSL West title, she then came back on Saturday to hit another 9.55 in taking first on the floor at the Fremd Invite.
"She works extremely hard and is consistent and clean," said Fremd coach Jim Guest of Uhrich's floor routine. "Her offseason workouts are showing."
State meet changes: Changes could be coming to the state gymnastics meet very soon.
Currently the state meet is divided into three sessions over two days. The preliminaries are divided into two sessions on the first day with each event being run separately, making for a very long day for the athletes and fans.
Last year Barrington's Laura Sculley was the first one on bars to begin the first session at around 1 p.m. and then ended up being the last one on floor to end the second session after 10 p.m.; in what proved to be marathon day for the Fillies senior.
The girls gymnastic ad hoc committee advanced three proposals that the state gymnastic coaches ranked on Jan. 14 to revamp the girls state meet format.
The committee and coaches are looking to run the state prelims more like a regular meet, where all four events would run concurrently, reducing the time.
The recommendations are currently being reviewed by the committee with the best option being advance to the advisory committee.
Final rotation: AAI, the official supplier of gymnastics equipment to USA Gymnastics, will be the official supplier for the IHSA state meet this season. AAI products have been used in many major events, including Olympic Games, World Championships and NCAA championships-Check out the SGS (State Gymnastic Stats) website for everything you want to know about Illinois girls gymnastics. Hinsdale Doings writer Bill Stone and former Suburban Life writer Mike Considine provide an all-inclusive look at girl's gymnastics. The link to the site is illinoissgs.tripod.com/girls/ ... Congratulations to Buffalo Grove head coach Stephanie Schrader and her husband Rob, who welcomed the addition of future gymnast Haedyn Elizabeth, who was born on Jan. 6. It is the second girl for Schrader's growing family.