Tri-Cities girls gymnastics season preview
Batavia
Coach: Taryn Boyce (10th year)
Top returnees: Courtney Glassman (Jr., all-around), Meghan McGee (So., all-around), Lauren Stangl (So., bars/all-around), Kristi Zabka (Jr., all-around).
Key newcomers: Cameron Hindel (Fr., all-around), Hannah Katz (Fr., all-around).
Outlook: Batavia looks to be a year away from really making things interesting in conference, as well as the state series, but the Bulldogs should still be very good behind sophomore all-arounder Meghan McGee and junior all-arounders Kristi Zabka and Courtney Glassman. Sophomore Lauren Stangl is another talented all-arounder and would give the team four solid all-around scores but knee surgery has her limited to the uneven bars this winter. “We don’t want to cause any more trauma, so we’ll try to keep her safe, especially since she’s only a sophomore,” Batavia coach Taryn Boyce said. Boyce also knows the team won’t lose anything to graduation as the roster doesn’t have a single senior on it and only lost one key scorer, Sarah Ganster, from last year, and Ganster was sidelined almost all of last season. There’s a lot of optimism because Boyce landed seven talented freshmen to work with, including a couple that will certainly contribute to varsity this winter, likely in specialty roles. “They all have pretty decent gymnastics backgrounds and pretty solid skills,” Boyce said. “But they’re young and we’ll do some fixing and shaping and help them make the most of their potential.” Since the team is likely a year away from contending for a conference title and a state bid — especially with Geneva and St. Charles co-op both loaded this winter — the fact that junior all-arounder Kaylin Clevenger isn’t on the team isn’t as big a loss. Clevenger had planned on joining the team this year after committing to club last year, but a back injury delayed her training. “Hopefully she can get healthy and be a part of the team her senior year,” Boyce said. “And if she doesn’t, we’re still going to have a lot of talent.” The Bulldogs should score in the 130-135 range this season.
Geneva
Coach: Kim Hostman (15th year)
Top returnees: Megan Beitzel (Jr., all-around), Dominique Brognia (Sr., all-around), Grace Ginsberg (Jr., all-around), McKenna Merges (So., all-around), Claire Scatterday (Sr., all-around).
Key newcomers: Claire Rose Ginsberg (Fr., all-around).
Outlook: The Vikings had to wait to see the scores of the final sectional last year before learning they qualified for the state finals for the first time in program history. They’re hopeful to make a return trip, despite losing a three-year starter in Ashley Puff and specialist Jenna Ginsberg, both to graduation. “We’ll miss Ashley’s leadership and strong all-around score,” Geneva coach Kim Hostman said. “But we’ve got a lot of really strong kids coming back who have worked on a lot of new skills in the off-season.” Seniors Claire Scatterday and Dominique Brognia (15th in the all-around, 36.9 last year) may not be the most vocal, but they certainly let their scores speak for them. Both will need strong seasons if the Vikings hope to make a return trip to Palatine. “They might be quieter than Ashley, but the girls already know each other pretty well so I think they’re going to be good leaders,” Hostman said. “We’re excited. The school is backing us 100 percent and knows we have another strong team going into the season and we’re getting recognition right off the bat so it’s very positive right now.” Sophomore McKenna Merges and juniors Grace Ginsberg and Megan Beitzel each can provide all-around scorers and were significant contributors to last year’s squad, which placed fifth in the state with a 145.225. The team welcomes the third Ginsberg to the program in freshman Claire Rose Ginsberg, another all-arounder. With six talented all-arounders and some JV girls on the cusp, look for the Vikings to do what they can to stay healthy throughout December and then use January to polish their routines for a state run. “It’s so important to figure out how to keep them healthy with so many meets during the week,” Hostman said. “Shin splints and stuff like that. So we’re going to be strategic.”
St. Charles co-op
Coach: Amy Lill (7th year)
Top returnees: Sidney Copeland (Sr., all-around), Rachel Dugan (So., all-around), Kelly Gorniak (Sr., all-around), Cathryn Gotlund (Sr., vault, beam), Sierra Thiesse (Sr. bars, floor), Samantha Upshaw (So., vault, beam)
Key newcomers: Kim Breivik (Fr., vault, floor)
Outlook: Last year, St. Charles showed how deep it was, advancing to state for the second time in six years, despite losing Sidney Copeland to a season-ending injury. The team won’t enjoy as much depth as it did a season ago. It lost Sydney Olson, Jesi Ortiz, Alix Scherer and Andrea Schwartz to graduation, but none were all-arounders, although Ortiz’s consistently high tallies on vault and floor will be especially missed. Good news is copious and it begins with Copeland who will ease her way back from injury and ultimately return to being an all-arounder, as will Kelly Gorniak who had a minor injury over the summer. Sophomore all-arounder Rachel Dugan is back after a fantastic freshman season in which she tied for 26th at state in the all-around. Incoming freshman Kim Breivik is a former club kid, who should give the squad two nice scores every night on vault and floor. Veteran specialists Cathryn Gotlund, Sierra Thiesse and Samantha Upshaw also return and Gotlund may work some bars and floor this winter as well, as St. Charles coach Amy Lill believes she’s capable as an all-arounder. “We want to put the top five up there to help our score,” Lill said. “We’ve got a lot of girls who can compete and we’ll look to get the girls healthy and keep them that way.” The overall program numbers are down to 17 this year, which is actually a good thing as it will give Lill more one-on-one time with her team. This is, after all, a squad that not only expects to get to state, but to make an impact there, unlike how it did last year and in 2008. “The definite goal is to get to state and make a statement and not make eighth place and be disappointed,” Lill said. “We’re bringing back almost the entire team that experienced the state series and hopefully if we can make it that far again it won’t be such a huge shock to them.” Lill will push the girls, which means senior Courtney Buoy, junior Racquel Favia and sophomores Devon Ross and Dani Buoy will vie to contribute as specialists.