Fremd's MSL dominance continues
Fremd employed its high energy G-force to lead it to the Mid-Suburban League girls gymnastics title Wednesday at Conant.
Gianna Christodoulopoulos was flying high, scoring a career-best 37.45 to win the all-around.
"I think it went real well and I'm really excited," Christodoulopoulos said. "The team did really great.
Christodoulopoulos, along with another strong contingent of Fremd gymnasts, scored a 141.40 to win the MSL title. It was Fremd's second consecutive MSL title, seventh in the last eight years and 25th overall.
"It was our best meet of the season," Fremd coach Kasey Kronforst said. "We have been working really hard in practice and trying to get the kinks out. It is the perfect time to do that. It is a big deal to keep the tradition alive."
Christodoulopoulos won the beam with a career-best 9.50. She was second on the floor with a 9.35. She was also third on the bars with 9.15 and tied for third on the vault with a 9.45.
"She was on fire today," Kronforst said. "We relied on her a lot and she pulled though and I am real proud of her."
Fremd also got strong performances from Katie Vessell, who was fifth on the floor and ninth in the all-around with a 34.90. Sam Shirmer was eighth on the bars and 14th in the all-around, Annika Waller was sixth on the bars while Kate Watson was ninth on the beam.
The Vikings needed all those points to hold off Barrington, which was second with 140.75. The Fillies, who were nursing a couple of key injuries, still managed to make it close, which pleased coach Jason Loeffler.
"We went into the meet and took the pressure off ourselves," Loeffler said. "We just let the other teams fight it out and we still did pretty well. We should be ready for Tuesday's regional."
Barrington's Lauren Tenbrunsel, who just competed on the bars and finished seventh, along with Brooke Husby, who was seventh on the floor, both should be ready to take on more events next week.
The Fillies also got a big performance from Sarah Ruesch, who tied for the vault title with Hoffman Estates' Sol Sarrantos with a 9.50.
"It felt really good," said Ruesch, whose 9.50 was her second-best ever on the vault and helped her finish fourth in the all-around with a 36.10.
"I love the vault. It is my favorite event."
Jade Moranetz and Alana Riemenschneider also performed well for Barrington.
The conference's future looks very strong with three freshmen winning events.
Sarrantos, who is one of those freshmen, said she wanted to get a better score after the first of two vaults tallied a 9.30.
"My first vault was good, but I knew I could do better because I took a couple of steps," said Sarrnatos, who was sixth in the all-around with a 35.725.
"I believe in myself. I just wanted to try again and got my 9.50."
Sarrantos' teammate, Elyssa Wuerffel, also had a great night. Wuerfell, a freshman, won the floor with a 9.40 and was third in the all-around with a 36.20.
"It was really fun," Wuerffel said. "It has been a little rough for me, but I think I have it down right now."
Also having it down is Schaumburg's Alexis Rothmeyer. Another of the fantastic freshmen, Rothmeyer won the bars with a career-best 9.55. She was also second in the all-around with a 37.10.
"I am really proud of my bar routine," Rothmeyer said. "I was really nervous at the start. I just tried to remember that it was like at practice and then I just went for it. I gave it my all."
Conant, which finished third with a 138.15 was led by Danielle Smith, who tied for third on the vault, was third on the floor and was fifth in the all-around with a 35.80. Julia Betts was fourth on the floor and ninth on the vault while Lea Faouaz was 10th on the vault and floor.
Palatine was fourth with a 138.05. Alyssa Eckels was second on the beam, Elly Nilsen was sixth on the vault and Sam Mogensen was ninth in the all-around.
It was also the final official duty for Palatine's Patty Burke, who is retiring this year after being the MSL gymnastics chairperson since 2005.