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Carmel shooting for more state success

Carmel Catholic's girls gymnastics team has been one of the best in Lake County recently, and no stranger to the state meet.

The Corsairs have won five state championships and have advanced to state 17 times since 1991. This season, they will be tested to see if they can get back to state again.

"We hope to improve our performance with every meet, ultimately qualifying to state," Carmel coach Sarah Doyle said. "We set our sights high each year, in order to push our team to reach past any expectation. As long as we are working together to better ourselves, supporting one another and remembering how blessed we are to do what we love, we will be successful."

Izzy Kropiwiec, who will be competing next year at Winona State University, is the lone senior on a relatively young team and has state experience from last year. She has stepped away from high school and club soccer to focus solely on gymnastics.

"She did get several offers to continue competing in college," Doyle said. "She's the strongest I've ever seen her."

The other returners are juniors Lyndsey Basara and Kyla Rapplean. Sophomores Claire Keane and Nina Kropiwiec and freshmen Amanda Hamann and Camryn Rapplean will contribute as well. Kyla Rapplean will be lost for the year, however, because of a hip injury.

"She competed last season with a nagging pain in her hip and actually did beautifully despite how much pain she was in," Doyle said. "After spring and summer softball, she continued to struggle and finally went to a specialist, who diagnosed her with a torn labrum in her hip. Kyla has been in intensive therapy physical therapy for almost two months, hoping to avoid surgery.

"Unfortunately, her pain remains and she will not be able to compete this season. She plans to undergo surgery sometime in the next several months. This is a huge loss to our team because Kyla was an extremely talented all-arounder. It's hard to picture the team without her. But, thankfully, she's committed to being there for the team, helping any way she can, despite not being up on the equipment."

•Lake Zurich brought gymnastics back a couple of years ago and continues to make strides as a program. The Bears return seniors Julia McDevitt, Kelsey Rothas and Joanna Topa, and sophomore Isabella Palmer. The Bears also have several newcomers, including junior Kayla Bailey, sophomores Rayna Kauffman and Kayla Moses, and freshmen AJ Burk and Grace Lacrosse.

"We're looking for a great start to the season and showing a lot of depth this year," Lake Zurich coach Chelsie Grotelueschen said. "We've got five newcomers that are going to be great additions to the team this year."

•Stevenson will be led this season by Emily Weinstein. Other returning gymnasts include Ally Gitler, Jess Maher, Ainslee Cutler and Maya Ferguson. A couple of newcomers are Emma Fang and Ashley Schabes.

"We're a young team with limited experience but if we can gain confidence, we should be very competitive," Stevenson coach Judy Harwood said. "We expect to compete for the conference championship along with Lake Zurich and Mundelein."

•Mundelein's expectations are high with returning seniors Amanda Muench, Audrey Kafka, Sydney Naddy and Sophia Gilardi. Adding depth are juniors Elle Mishler, Emma Hallin and Jaimie Allore, and sophomores Jessica Lake and Emily Weiss.

"There are other good teams in the area, but if we stay healthy and hungry, our Mustangs squad could be a serious contender," Mundelein coach Jesse Piland said. "We would like to find both individual and team success of the highest kind this year. All the gymnasts will have to earn it the hard way."

•Libertyville could be a contender in the crowded North Suburban Conference. The Wildcats return senior Cameron Hamilton, who missed competing in the sectional last February with a dislocated elbow. Other leaders will be seniors Maddie Swanson and Constante Zanze along with juniors Sara Bogan and Liv Bertaud. Freshmen Anna Becker, Emma Haas and Maya Roiland round out the squad.

"We have real high expectations for this year," Libertyville coach Tiffany Owens said. "We would like to be first or second place in the conference and win a regional. We would also like to make it to sectionals and state. We do have a lot of talent this year."

•Warren returns seniors Abigail Bosko, Aaliyah Humphreys and Sharon Dhali. Junior Kayleigh Glickley and freshman Olivia Kaether also should contribute.

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