Fremd's Golota aiming for big finish at state

The girls gymnastics state meet is quite the spectacle, with an electric atmosphere, and it's an event in which every great high school gymnast dreams of competing.

It is no different for Fremd senior Caitlin Golota.

Golota marched in before the state meet as a grade school gymnast for the Palatine Park District and envisioned herself one day competing before the packed house.

She didn't have to wait long, contributing to a powerful Fremd squad that won state her freshman and sophomore years.

"Marching in with the club as an eighth grader, then actually competing freshman year, was kind of surreal," said Golota of the state experience.

But that experience was taken away from Golota as a junior, when a left ankle injury the Saturday before sectionals erased her state dream.

"Words can't describe it. It's one of those things I worked all season for and I just wanted to help the team," added Golota, "Not being able to do it was really, really tough on me."

Especially after Golota had helped Fremd secure its 11th and 12th state titles, including going 4-for-4 as a sophomore at the state meet.

Junior year was supposed to be her breakthrough year and she was primed for a big state meet after finishing second in the all-around at regionals.

"Absolutely," added Fremd coach Jim Guest of Golota's junior year state potential. "That is why it was so disheartening."

There were a lot of what ifs from last year , and this postseason Golota is looking to answer them starting at the Schaumburg sectional at 6:30 p.m. Monday.

"Part of my motivation for this year was to make sure she gets through it," added Guest, who has limited Golota to two events, the bars and beam, for most of the season. "I want her to have a positive outcome, whatever that may be."

That should be no problem, considering Golota has been a spring of optimism even when injured.

Fremd has had its share of outstanding leaders, including in recent years Holly Reichard, Mary Burke, and Tori Saratankis.

Golota has been able to draw from each of the three recent Fremd graduates, and has not missed a step in putting her own imprint on the Vikings' program.

The senior has been there for the Vikings, whether being the first to congratulate or console a teammate after a performance, or whether lifting up an injured teammate's spirits with a quick note or visit.

"She's like my sister and she is always there for us," added Fremd junior Maegan Wochinski of Golota's impact.

And she has become a great mentor the younger Vikings can lean on, especially in the pressure-packed postseason.

"It's a great factor to have someone who has done it and has been here for four years," injected Fremd freshman Emily Pinderski. "She's a true leader."

Leadership seams to run in the Golota family. Caitlin's older sister Brittany, a 2005 Fremd graduate, was the captain for cheerleading and older brother Joe, a 2007 grad, was captain for the football team.

"She's just been so positive with the girls and everything is for the team," added Guest of his senior captain. "Yet if she is not perfect she feels like she has let the team down to some degree."

But more times than not Golota has lifted the Vikings, and not many gymnasts can claim the career-best marks the senior holds on the bars (9.7), beam (9.7), vault (9.7) and floor (9.1).

Golota has not been hesitant since coming back this season, helping guide a Fremd squad that lost freshman Anna Johnson to a severe broken ankle the first dual meet of the season, and then lost promising freshman Shannon Lemajeur to an ACL on Jan. 16.

Golota saw her first action in the all-around at last Friday's Mid-Suburban League meet, taking an impressive fifth (36.30) and helping lead the Vikings to their 21st conference title.

The senior scored a 9.1 on her first floor performance of the season, inspiring the Vikings in their come from behind victory

"Some people if they are pressured, they just quit," said Fremd junior Alyssia VanDuch. "Caitlin doesn't quit. She tries to make it better."

Golota has helped the Vikings come on strong the second half of the season, including hitting a season best 148.55 on Jan. 7, and the senior is definitely in the mix for her first individual state medal, looking solid on the bars, beam, and vault.

"It's always about the team," added Golota about her medal quest. "But being a senior and my last year in gymnastics I would like to go out on a high note."

Golota has done it in the classroom, too, carrying a 4.0 grade-point average. She is headed to the University of Iowa to seek a degree in nursing.

Last year Fremd qualified for the state meet for an amazing 24th consecutive year, narrowly missing its 20th trophy with a fourth-place finish.

On Monday night at Schaumburg, Golota is hoping to help Fremd drive to its 25th consecutive state meet - this time without crutches

"We all have a goal in mind when we come in at the beginning of the season," said Golota of the Vikings' aspirations. "And we do whatever we can to achieve that goal.

"Last year was a bit disappointing, we obviously wanted to do better. I mean everyone wants to end up on that podium, so I think we're even more motivated this year."

And the Vikings are in good hands with Golota behind the wheel.