Scouting boys gymnastics
Top gymnasts - Barrington: Tim Karsten (Sr), Kellen O'Connor (Jr), Jason Paz (Sr.), Buffalo Grove: Eugene Blackman (So), Jake LeClair (Sr), Brian Colton (Jr); Conant: Anthony Crivolio (Jr), Clinton Martin (Sr.), Steve Rink (So.); Elk Grove: Mike Jachura (Sr.), Kamil Nytko (Sr.); Hersey: Juan Cervantes (Sr); Fremd: Dante Digangi (Sr,.); Hoffman Estates: Brian Manadero (Sr), Justin Price (Sr); Palatine: Andre Gatorano (Sr.), David Irsay (Sr.), Dan Murphy (Sr.), Luke Schuster (Sr); Prospect: Joe Napoleon (Sr.), Rolling Meadows: Marc Herff (So.), John Scallon (Jr); Schaumburg: Steve Long (Sr.), Jake Mager (Jr), Collin Smith (So)
Will the run continue? - Palatine coach Scott Hagel, now in his ninth season, has guided the Pirates to six straight MSL West crowns and three straight overall conference titles. "Hopefully, we can win the West and conference title again," he said. "But our ultimate goal is to make it to state." The Pirates have been quite successful there, as well, finishing third a year ago and first in 2007.
One year ago - West Division: Palatine 5-0, Conant 4-1, Fremd 3-2, Hoffman Estates 2-3, Barrington 1-4, Schaumburg 0-5; East Division: Prospect 4-0; Elk Grove 3-1, Buffalo Grove 2-2, Hersey 1-3, Rolling Meadows 1-4
Returning champ: Only one gymnast who won an MSL individual title last year returns this spring. That is Palatine senior Luke Schuster, who captured the top spot on the still rings with an 8.77 score. Schuster also placed sixth on the pommel horse and tied for fifth on the parallel bars.
Farewell tour - After 30 years of directing the Elk Grove program, Bill Watts will retire from teaching and coaching at the end of the school year. Watts was a gymnast (two-year varsity performer on high bar and parallel bars) at Elk Grove High School where he graduated from in 1972 and began teaching at 33 years ago in the physical education department. He earned a gym scholarship to Indiana University, where he also competed in the same two events. Watts' Grenadiers placed in the state meet in 2002 (seventh) and 2003 (sixth) and won the MSL crown in 2003. "The advancement of the sport over the years is the biggest difference I've seen," Watts said. "Routines that I did in my senior year at Indiana are what high school kids do today."
All-around best - The top returning MSL all-around performers from last year's state meet are Palatine's Andre Gatorano (51.70), Conant's Steven Rink (49.21), Prospect's Joe Napoleon (48.10), Conant's Anthony Crivolio (47.60), Fremd's Brandon Trostud (45.40), Rolling Meadows' Marc Herff (41.76) and Barrington's Jason Paz (41.30).
The Dean - Now in his 35th season directing the Prospect program, Pat Kivland is the dean of MSL coaches. He has also been a boys and girls diving coach and girls golf coach at Prospect. He started coaching the boys gymnastics team in 1971. Kivland retired from the physical education department in 2004. Kivland's boys gymnastics' teams were MSL champs in 2004 and 2005. He was a gymnast at Prospect, placing second in all-around in the 1965 state meet. He also set numerous records when he was a gymnast at Indiana.
The Rookie - Randy Smith takes over the Conant program after serving as an assistant in the program the last two years. A graduate of Addison Trail, where he was a state qualifier as a junior in the high bar, Smith is in his third year teaching in the Conant physical education department. "It would be phenomenal to win the conference," he said. "But overall, the kids would like to make it to state as a team."
Past teammates - Fourth-year Buffalo Grove coach Chris Stevens and Leyden coach Jason Suchy were teammates on Conant's 1997 gymnastics team that placed fourth in the state. Stevens was a senior on that team and a state qualifier in the floor exercise. Suchy, a sophomore on that squad, was a state qualifier in several events.
Mark your calendar - On Friday, April 3, Palatine and Conant will face off in a dual meet in Hoffman Estates. The two teams were one-two in the West a year ago, and appear set to battle for the top spot again. Prospect and Elk Grove, which could be the top two teams in the East, meet on Tuesday, March 31.
- John Leusch