Fremd bounces back
Things went from bad to worse for Fremd's girls gymnastics team at the Lake Park sectional meet Tuesday.
On Saturday, Fremd lost its No. 2 all-arounder Caitlin Golota to a left ankle injury, then the Vikings got off to rough start on Tuesday scoring a 34.825 on the beam.
But Fremd recovered on the third rotation by scoring 37.650 on the vault and ended the meet with a 37.250 on the bars to capture its 14th sectional title with 146.05 points in Roselle.
"It's been a rough couple of days," said Fremd coach Jim Guest whose team advances to next week's state meet at Palatine. "But after we got off the beam I was happy with how our kids came back, vault kind of catapulted us. We had a nice finish."
Prospect (138.775) took second followed by Niles West (136.275), Palatine (136.125), Conant (135.625), and Rolling Meadows (131.85).
Fremd's Tori Sarantakis had her own comeback. The senior started the night by taking fourth on the beam (9.025), but she took first on the floor (9.7), vault (9.7), and bars (9.7) in winning the all-around title (38.125).
"I just wanted to put it behind me," said Sarantakis who had a fall on the beam. "After a slow start I think we really picked it up and started getting down to business."
Sophomore Maegan Wochinski came back from a hyperextended knee to take third for the Vikings on the bars (9.375).
"I was still shaky but it was one of my better meets," said Wochinski of her performance. "I was able to get the rust off."
Sophomore Alyssia VanDuch added a fourth place finish on the bars (9.175) and a fifth place finish on the vault (9.475), and Senior Sarah Torp added a tied for first on the beam (9.175) for Fremd.
Senior Emily Rossdeutcher took fifth in the all around (35.80) and finished third on the beam (9.075) to lead Prospect.
"It was shaky," said Rossdeutcher who was performing on an injured left knee. "But I had to gut it out."
Junior Katie Colmone took fourth for the Knights on the vault (9.50).
"The first attempt wasn't so good, so I knew I had to do better on the second attempt," said Colmone of her vault.
Buffalo Grove's Linda Dunne took second in the all-around (36.80), as the junior tied for first on the beam (9.175), second on the vault (9.55), and fifth on the floor (9.10).
"I tried to hit everything," said Dunne of her performance. "When you hit beam it's a good way to start things off."
St. Edward freshman Jordyn Madden took third on the all-around (36.175), finishing third on the vault (9.525).
The freshman did not qualify to the sectionals on the beam, but she came through with a 9.375 to cement her all-around performance.
"My warm-ups went well and I was much more focused," said Madden, who had two falls on the beam at the regional. "I knew I could get that score and I just aimed for it."
Elk Grove senior Kim Gulik took fourth in the all-around (36.075), finishing fifth on the bars (9.125).
"Once again, it came together," said Gulik, "It was perfect timing."
Conant senior Kelly Hendricks came through on the floor (9.45), taking second place.
"I just stayed consistent, after the first pass it was like 'it's OK,'" said Hendricks of her floor routine.
Schaumburg's Brooke Shimon also came through on the floor (9.40), taking third place.
"I felt like if I could hit under pressure like that then I'm good to go," said Shimon of the floor routine.
Maine West freshman Michelle Madalinski hit on the beam (9.0), taking fifth place.