Boys gymnastics: Scouting Northwest
Scouting boys gymnastics
The Mid-Suburban League did not have a team representative at the state finals last year for the first time since 2004, but area teams and individuals are hoping to change that as Hinsdale Central hosts the state meet May 15 and 16.
Teams to watch: Fremd, which has not qualified as a team for the state finals since 2007, looks to get there under coach Tim Hamman. Palatine also has depth and could be in the mix while Schaumburg and Hoffman Estates look to contend in the West. Hersey looks to claim the East title with Buffalo Grove and Prospect also having a shot.
Individuals to watch: Tyler Cho, Buffalo Grove; Matt Scislowski, Buffalo Grove; Matt Phelps, Hersey; Mark LaRock, Prospect; Matt Wang Palatine; Prakash Nigam, Palatine; Eric Barnd, Fremd; and Bartosz Widelak, Hoffman Estates.
MID-SUBURBAN EASTBuffalo GroveCoach: Zack Crandall
Lost from last season: Jeff Burns, Stevie Gutierrez, Steve Pauley, Jake Siebert, Blake Yonan
Gymnasts: Tyler Cho, Sr., (FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB, AA); Matt Scislowski, Sr., (PH); Zach Harris, Sr., (FX, V, PB, HB); Kyle Pollina, Sr., (FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB, AA); Sasha Varvaruk, Sr., (FX, V); Justin Zyck. Sr., (PH)
Outlook: Buffalo Grove, which qualified for the state meet two years ago and finished eighth, looks to get back to state this year with a senior-dominated squad. Led by all-arounders Cho and Pollina, Crandall has an excellent mix of specialists, led by Scislowski.
Elk GroveCoach: Bill Watts
Lost from last season: Jake Nytko, Ethan Hartowicz, Marcin Kaczynski
Gymnasts: Bogdan Koval, Sr., (PH, PB); Ivan Ramirez, Jr. (FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB, AA); Marcus Jaynes, Jr. (FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB, AA); Jim Briggs, Soph., (FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB, AA)
Outlook: The Grens look to make a move forward this year with Koval and a trio of all-arounders leading the way. If Elk Grove can find some depth from the 38 gymnasts in their program; watch out.
HerseyCoach: Dustin Berman
Lost from last season: Greg Madden, Matt Swanson, Angelo Tanerelli, Justin Ramos, Derk Vandernoot, Eric Wingard
Gymnasts: Matt Phelps, Jr., (FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB, AA); Jon Phelps, Jr. (FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB, AA); Dennis Jang, Jr., (PB); Will Nicholson, Sr. (FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB, AA); Dylan Vo, Jr. (R, PH): Mathias Newman, Sr., ( PH); Konrad Szczygiel, Sr., (HB); Eric Williams, Sr., (R, PB).
Outlook: The Phelps brothers will try to make it mission possible for the Huskies this year. The duo, along with Nicholson; will all compete as all-arounders. They hope to take Hersey to the East title this year. Williams is a top rings specialist while Newman looks strong on the pommel horse.
ProspectCoach: Randy Smith
Lost from last season: Christian Goekel, Max Andryushchenko
Gymnasts: Mark "Ringo" LaRock, Sr., (FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB, AA); Jack D'Onfrio, Fr., (FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB, AA); Adam Vivero, Jr., (FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB, AA); Dylan Kowatsch, Jr., (FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB, AA)
Outlook: Max Andryushchenko will just compete on club this year so Ringo Larock will help the Knights beat the drum loudly this year. He is going to need some help from a team that does not have much depth. But Smith has a way of picking things up as the season moves on.
Rolling MeadowsCoach: Michael Costa
Lost from last season: Alex Smith
Gymnasts: Conor Thomas, Sr., (FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB, AA); Jorynn Meahan, Sr., (FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB, AA); Chingus Enkhbayar, Jr., (FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB, AA); Aaron Delbosque, Soph. (FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB, AA);
Outlook: The Mustangs will have a quartet of all-arounders for Costa, who will look for more depth coming from his lower levels.
MID-SUBURBAN WEST
BarringtonCoach: Rob DeFano
Lost from last season: Grant Kimes, Alex Schatsick
Gymnasts: Jeffrey Ryan, Sr., (FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB, AA); Riley Thomas, Jr. (FX, PH); Danny Schnura, Soph., (FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB, AA); Colton Wiseman Sr., (FX, PH, V, PB); Evan Wiesman Soph., (FX, V, PB); James Owsley, Jr., (PH, SR, PB); David Kim, Sr., (SR, V, PB HB); Ryan Wexlar, Sr., (SR, HB)
Outlook: The Broncos, who again have no club gymnasts, look to climb the ladder to 120 points. Barrington is led by all-arounders Jeffrey Ryand and Danny Schnura. The Wiseman brothers of Colton, who is a senior and Evan, who is a sophomore, also make key contributions.
ConantCoach: Mike Opsal
Lost from last season: Blake Rossdeutcher, Roman Cruz, Zack Prill, Marcus Williams and Andrew Inacay
Gymnasts: Michael Yim, Jr., (FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB, AA); John Raimondo, Sr., (FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB, AA); Joshua Lee, SR., (FX, SR, V, HB); Joe Bolbot, Sr., FX, V, PB & HB); Sam Baralas, Jr., (FX, SR, V); Michael Frale, Sr.; (SR, V); Sam Minarik, Fresh., (PH); Arham Khan, Sr., (PH); Lawrence Torres, Jr. (PH), Stephen Ly, Jr., (PB, HB); Parth Patel, Soph., (FX)
Outlook: The Cougars will be riding all-arounders Yim and Raimondo to help carry them through. Conant has a load of specialists, including freshman Sam Minarik, who could make some noise on the pommel horse.
FremdCoach: Tim Hamman
Lost from last year: Dylan DiMaano
Gymnasts: Sam Yim, Sr., (PB, SR); Jon McMillan, Sr., (SR); Noah Ciborowski, Sr., (FX, V, HB, PB); Eric Barnd, Soph.,(FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB, AA); Ryan Roth, Soph., (FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB, AA); Nick Oyasu, Soph., (FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB, AA); Konrad Waller, Soph., (FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB, AA); Dan Classon, Jr., (PH,SR, PB, HB); Cole Patton, Jr., (FX, VA, PB).
Outlook: The Vikings will have a youth movement continues as Fremd will look to sophomore all-arounders Barnd, Roth, Oyasu amd Waller to lead them. Hammans also has a nice mix of specialists in Yim, McMillan, Ciborwoski, Classon and Patton.
Hoffman EstatesCoach: Ryan B. Brown
Lost from last season: Andres Cueva-Robles,Avery Johnson, Alan Peralta
Gymnasts: Bartosz Widelak, Sr., (FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB, AA); Brendan Gorvett, Sr., (FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB, AA); Anthiny Halbisch, Jr., (FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB, AA); Mustafa Hashim, Sr., (PH, SR); William Fernandez, Soph., (FX, V, PB, HB); Connor Sauceda, Jr.; (FX, V, PB, HB); Jeet Raol, Jr., (PH); Dawid Byrgiel, Soph., (SR)
Outlook: The Hawks have been on a steady improvement the past two years under Brown and this year is no different. They have a nice trio of all-arounders in Widelak, Gorvett and Halbisch and hope to get some help from specialists Fernandez, Hashim and Sauceda.
PalatineCoach: Scott Hagel
Lost from last year: Niko Martino, Ryan Perryman
Gymnasts: Matt Buffo, Sr., FX, SR, V, HB); Jack Hallier, Jr., (FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB, AA); Daniel Koshy, Sr., (PH, SR, V, PB, HB); Brett Limberg, Jr., (PH); Carter McCall, Sr.(PB, HB); Prakash Nigam, Soph. (FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB, AA); Brian Pazdioch, Jr., (FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB, AA); Bobby Schulte, Sr., (PH); Ethan Sciuckas, Jr., (FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB, AA); Matt Wang, Jr., (FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB, AA)
Outlook: Hagel and his Pirates took their lumps last year. But age and experience can have their rewards and Palatine should be on the cusp on cashing in on them. Sophomore Prakash Nigam, who won the conference all-around title last year, will lead a nice mix of all-arounders and specialists for the Pirates.
SchaumburgCoach: Erik Bostrom
Lost from last year: Mat Sigler, Tyler Foerster, Grant Senderak, Kyle Picchi
Gymnasts: Jonathan Gonzalez, JR., (SR, V, PB); A.J. Hardin, JR., (FX, V, PB, HB); Hazen Rice, JR., (SR, V, PB, HB); Mike Szal, SR,, (PH, PB); Jim Conley, SR., (PH, V, HB); Vince Salinas, SR., (SR, V, HB); Marco Abundiz, JR., (PB); Pat Pasia, SR., (PH); Garrett Wiebeck, SR., (PH); Dylan Mitchell, JR. (FX, SR); Tony Orlando, JR., (FX, V); Alex Hernandez, JR., (PH, V, PB, HB); Anthony Gershman, Jr., (SR); Samson Grzesxkowiak, Soph., (FX)
Outlook: The Saxons will miss Mat Sigler, who was one of the area's top gymnasts last year. Bostrom will counter will a team of specialists led by Hardin and Gonzalez that he hopes will carry them near the top of the MSL West.
WEST SUBURBAN GOLDLeydenCoach: Jason Orna
Lost from last season: Marcin Machnic, Michael Ruelas, Zach Geneva
Gymnasts: Fabian Marquez, (FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB, AA); Jacob Reed, (FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB, AA); George Anderson, (FX, PH, SR, V, PB, HB, AA); Lavaris Fletcher (FX), Tavaris Fletcher (FX, V); Julio Vera (PH); Sean Stone (SR); Jesus Bahena (V)
Outlook: The Eagles have a nice core of gymnasts returning in Marquez, Reed and Anderson. They look to make some noise this year in the West Suburban Gold.
- Dick Quagliano