Prospect stays in the moment, prepares for the future

After a couple of near misses, the Prospect girls gymnastic team is looking to hit it big this season.

In 2012, the Knights missed qualifying to the state meet by one spot, finishing .325 points behind Lake Forest for the last at-large qualifying spot.

Last season the Knights found themselves in the same position, missing the state meet by two spots, this time finishing only .17 5 points behind Lake Forest.

This year Prospect is hoping to break through and qualify for its first state meet.

The Knights' quest got a bit more challenging on Monday when top all-around gymnast Gianna Scala went down with a left knee injury. The initial x-ray showed that the bones are intact, and an MRI was scheduled for Thursday.

Despite the setback, the Knights still enter the season with plenty of optimism.

“No one can replace Gianna — we hope she can come back — but right now we're just hoping to fill the void as best we can,” said Prospect coach Randy Smith, “It's always a battle, but at the end of the day I think you learn more from that. We don't want anything handed to us and we're not veering from our goals.”

That attitude will go a long way for a Prospect team that is seeking its first state appearance and is coming off a pair of heartbreaking misses.

“It was a very long wait,” said junior Maddie Larock, who emerged last season as one of the top gymnasts in the Mid-Suburban League. “But it helps push you; everyone realizes we have a goal to reach.”

“It was really disappointing,” added senior Jackie DiFonzo of the missed opportunities. “But I also feel that it helps us. It really puts a fire underneath us.”

“We feel so ready this year because we know what it is like to miss it.”

Larock and DiFonzo will be key members for a Knights attack that at best will be missing Scala for a chunk of the season. Junior Maddie Boldt will also be a key contributor.

Those three give the Knights plenty of big meet experience, especially Larock, who finished fifth in the MSL in the all-around and qualified to her first state meet last year in the all-around, bars and floor.

“She's a stud,” said Smith of Larock progress. “She is basically the type of girl you have to kick out of the gym. She is a great competitor and is not happy with herself unless it's done correctly.”

DiFonzo and Boldt are the glue that holds the team together and are able to add key points.

But it is going to take more than that to secure a state spot, and Prospect has the depth this year that will aid its pursuit.

Sophomore Megan Donner was limited due to an elbow injury last year, but she is looking for a breakout season this year. The Knights sophomore offered a glimpse of her potential by hitting a 9.5 on bars in the opening meet against Fremd on Tuesday.

“I think she is going to open a lot eyes this season,” said Smith of Donner's skills. “If someone slips she will be right there to cover them up. It's nice that we have some depth this year.”

Adding to that depth will be sophomores Olivia Sullo and Candice Melendez, who both contributed as freshman. Freshman Olivia Gonzalez and Megan Schmit will also contribute.

“You have to know that one part you're doing does contribute to the team,” said Boldt. “And the team is counting on your score.”

That depth will be severely tested with the uncertainty of Scala's injury. She has made her mark at Prospect holding the top scores for the Knights on the floor (9.75), beam (9.7), vault (9.7), and all-around (38.0)

Scala also earned two state medals on the floor, finishing fifth in 2012, and taking fourth last season and has won three consecutive floor titles at the MSL conference meet.

The Prospect senior has been an individual state qualifier her first three years and reflected on the Saturday before her injury what it would mean to have her team join her at state.

“As great as an experience as state has been for me, I couldn't put into words if my whole team was there,” said Scala. “This is certainly the best team I have been a part of since I've been here, and it would be the best feeling to be able to make state.”

The potential loss of a top gymnast could be a knockout blow to many teams, but Prospect has had its share of injures in the past, including the loss of Meggie Kania the past two seasons.

So, for a team that has had so many near misses, the Knights are not panic mode.

“The goals haven't changed,” added DiFonzo. “No matter what happens we know we can't back down.”