Schaumburg fills up with win over Fremd
According to Schaumburg coach Jami Stilling, the beam took a big bite out of the Saxons on Tuesday night.
But in the end the Saxons satisfied their hunger by coming from behind to nip defending Mid-Suburban League champion Fremd 140.45-139.95 at the Conant triangular in Hoffman Estates.
Host Conant took third with 126.25.
Schaumburg started the meet with an uncharacteristic 33.3 on the beam, but the Saxons came storming back in the final three events, including hitting a 37.35 on the floor, to edge Vikings.
“The beam ate us up,” said Stilling of the Saxons opening event. “I think coming off a long break and going against Fremd, they got a bit nervous and didn't hit. But the biggest thing is we were able to come back.”
And it started with the floor with Schaumburg taking four of the top five spots. Senior Brooke Shimon tied Fremd senior Meagan Wochinski for first with 9.45, with junior Ashley Miller (9.4), senior Caitlin Barrett (9.3), and sophomore Erin Barrett (9.2) following close behind.
“This is huge,” said Shimon, who had two falls on beam but came back to add third place on the bars (9.05) and fifth place on vault (8.95). “This gives us an extra boost to know we're up there with teams like Fremd. We know we can do well and we should.”
Miller tied teammate Caitlin Barrett for second in the all-around (35.40) and tied Wochinski for first on the vault (9.3); Barrett also added a first on the beam (8.9) in lifting the Saxons in their come from behind victory.
“After the beam I thought we blew it,” said Miller, whose team can wrap up the MSL West division with a victory in their final triangular next week. “We had to refocus; we've been trying to beat Fremd forever, so this is huge for us.”
Fremd seemed to be in control of the meet entering their final event, but the beam proved to be just as troublesome to the Vikings as it was for the Saxons.
“It was there for the taking at the end, we let it slip away,” said Fremd coach Jim Guest whose team hit a 32.70 on the beam. “We have room for improvement in all areas.”
Wochinski led the Vikings by taking the all-around title (36.20) and also taking first on the bars (9.25). She tied for first on the vault (9.3) and floor (9.45).
“We're not at our strongest right now,” added Wochinski whose team was missing three varsity members, including senior Alyssia Van Duch, who is out for the season. “It helps us realize what we need to work on; we still can pull it together.”
Junior Kelsey Onesto took second on the beam (8.6) and sophomore Emily Pinderski added a second on the bars (9.10) to aid the Vikings.
Conant is building a solid foundation and it starts with freshman Brianne Bibel who took third on the vault (9.1) and fourth on bars (8.9). Freshman Meicie Bennett added a third on the beam (8.4).
“We're growing, and we're growing together,” said Conant coach Lorel Cunningham.