Experience makes Fremd favorite again in MSL

The Fremd girls gymnastics team added to its Mid-Suburban League lore last year by winning its second conference title in a row, seventh in the last eight years and 25th overall.

A year later, the Vikings return an experienced group that will look to add to those lofty totals in an area that features a healthy amount of returning high-level state qualifiers.

Vikings coach Kacey Kronforst's squad welcomes back senior bars state qualifier Sam Shirmer (all-around or vault, bars and floor), along with senior Katie Vessell, who competes all-around, took second at regionals on floor and took fifth in the all-around scoring at MSLs and at the regional.

Junior Gina Aretos, and sophomores Cate Banzen and Ella Gray also return from Fremd's sectional-qualifying team. Freshmen newcomers Abby Gallicho (all-around) and Kacey Tokunaga (bars, beam, floor) will add to the Vikings' strength. Kronforst noted both Gray and Banzen already have made big strides in the early going.

"We're looking pretty strong on bars right now," Kronforst said. "We swing a lot of bars and the girls look pretty good. Vault might be another strong event for us this year as well."

Kronforst said beyond Xs and Os on the competition floor, Fremd has other intangibles working for it. "This team has a great dynamic building among our athletes," she said. "They work hard at practice and motivate each other to keep working toward their goals. They are disciplined and determined to have a successful season. The energy in the gym is great. I'm very lucky to have such a coachable group of girls."

The goals remain high for the Vikings this season, Kronforst explained. "We want to stay healthy and keep improving our skills and scores, and bring home some wins and hopefully make it far in the postseason," she said. "We have a few individuals qualify for state last year, so it would be nice to get a few more, or better yet, qualify as a team."

Prospect won the MSL East last year and welcomes back junior bars state qualifier Olivia Tader, as well as Jillian Schmit (all-around), Marina Andrick (all-around) and Kaiya Koyanagi (beam, vault, floor). Schmit qualified for sectionals last year. New to the team are sophomore Catherine Grabowy (floor, beam) and freshmen Anya Soriano (all-around) and Julia Cunniff (all-around).

"We would like to be East Division champions hopefully for a third year in a row, break a team score record for Prospect and get to state as a team," Knights coach Monica Donner said.

Rolling Meadows has senior state runner-up Nicole Kane back. Kane, an all-arounder, took second on bars. Also back are returning sectional qualifiers Jenna Byrne, Rouls Zervos and Abby Adams. Freshmen Melina Moreno, Brooklyn Hextall and Caitlin Widowski are new all-arounders who will help coach Michael Costa's squad.

"Our goal is to go 14 for 16 hit routines. If we can be consistent, we will be viable, for sure," Costa said.

Schaumburg is headlined by the return of sophomore Alexis Rothmeyer, who took sixth in the state in the all-around as a freshman, and also logged a ninth-place finish on beam, a 10th-place showing on bars and was 15th on floor. Delaney Nash is a returning sectional qualifier, while coach Amber Mirski welcomes all-arounders Donna-Rose Reyna (junior) and freshmen Chali Baumann and Amelia Mazeikis to the team.

"Our returning gymnasts worked hard over the summer to make improvements, and our incoming gymnasts are motivated," Mirski said. "We have a young team with high expectations. We're team-oriented with hard workers who have fun."

Buffalo Grove, fourth in the MSL last year, has all-arounders Dagmara Sobolak (senior) and Leah Oyen (sophomore) back. Sobolak, is a past state qualifier who missed all of last season due to injury. Oyen was the regional champion on bars. Hannah Fricke and Anna Lang also will help the Bison.

"This year, bars looks to be a strength," Bison coach Stephanie Schrader said. "We have five strong routines on this event. Our goal is to improve and move up in the MSL standings, as well as make a return to the state meet this year."

Hoffman Estates is paced by returning state qualifiers and now sophomores Elyssa Wuerffel (30th in the state in all-around) and Sol Sarratos. Also back are seniors Olivia Biggs, Nathaley Philemy and Hunter Freye, along with sophomore Paige Biggs. Sophomores Lilianna Cabrel and Nikki Thakkar are key newcomers. "We had a great season las year and accomplished some great things as we continued our growth that started four years ago," Hawks coach David Calisch said. "We will start slow, but by the end of the season, we are hoping we are healthy, strong and throwing sets that can score."

Palatine coach Terry Theobald returns junior all-arounders Alyssa Eckels, Sam Mogensen and Elly Nilsen and sophomore Jocie Waddington to go with freshmen all-arounders Kaci Strahl and Emily Ziemba.

Elk Grove welcomes back senior all-arounders Katie Talens, Hannah Baumeister and Rachel Ford. Senior newcomer Kayla Montemayor will help on vault, beam and floor. Talens is a returning sectional qualifier on vault.

"Most of our girls are seniors, so they have been putting in a lot of time and effort the last couple years," Grens coach Amy Rivera said. "I can sense through their hard work and productivity that they are driven to make this year their best one yet."