Rolling Meadows seeking greatness

Rolling Meadows girls gymnastics coach Michael Costa relayed the results of a collective decision his squad has made.

"The group has made the collective decision that mediocre is not good enough. They are striving for greatness," he said.

The Mustangs certainly have not turned in mediocre results thus far, going 3-0 overall in dual meets and 1-0 in Mid-Suburban League action. Meadows was third at both the Al Galatte and Glenbrook North Spartan invitationals.

"We are making improvements week-to-week," said Costa, who noted his team is solid on bars and beam and working hard on vault and floor.

Nicole Kane busted off a 9.65 on bars at the beginning of the season. "Nicole continues her greatness," Costa said. "We are working on some new skills to be in place for the postseason."

Costa also is high on Caitlin Widowski and Brooklyn Hextall. "Caitlin is proving to be an asset to this team," he said. "Brooklyn has asserted herself as a possible state qualifier and has really impressed a lot of people with her great lines, difficulty and consistency."

Freshman Melina Moreno also has been a contributor. "Melina is making a statement as a freshman," Costa noted.

Hoffman Estates update: The Hawks recently took second at the Wheeling invitational. Coach David Calisch noted Elyssa Wuerffel is consistently in the 9s on floor, vault and beam. She won the vault at 9.2 and the floor with a 9.5 at Wheeling, and also took the all-around title there at 36.35.

Sol Serratos has hit in the 9s on vault and beam. She was ninth at the Conant invite with a 9.05 on vault and hit 9.0 in a dual against Barrington. Serratos, a state qualifier a year ago and a 36 all-arounder, was born with clubfoot and with the help of Shriners Hospitals has overcome and accomplished plenty, Calisch noted.

"A few years ago we used the "#believe" as a goal for the season and over the next few years we accomplished that and moved on to more specific phrases," Calisch explained. "We have a lot of talent in Elyssa and Sol and a lot of talent at our third and fourth score, but we have to get on the equipment with the attitude that we believe in ourselves and each other and compete with confidence before we even begin to think about scores. This will be our focus over the winter break."

Fremd update: The Vikings have no complaints when it comes to the start they have gotten off to.

Coach Kacey Kronforst's squad is 2-0 in Mid-Suburban League meets and finished sixth out of 12 teams at the Glenbard West invitational that Kronforst pointed out featured the defending state-champion Hilltoppers, plus plenty of returning state qualifiers.

"We have a great team dynamic this year," she said. "The girls are doing a great job working together and pushing themselves and each other."

Team captains Sam Shirmer and Katie Vessell have been key cogs for the Vikings in the early going. "Sam and Katie are doing a great job leading the team," Kronforst said. "Their experience and leadership is helping the team compete with confidence and helping our new freshmen transition into the world of high school gymnastics."

Fremd's schedule doesn't get any easier. It heads to the New Trier invite Saturday. The Trevians finished second in the state last year to Glenbard West.

Hersey update: The Huskies have gone as high as 137 as a team thus far. Coach Shannon Barrett likes the development she's seen from newcomers Emma Hupp and Elizabeth Berk. "They have been our highest-scoring gymnasts and have been the most consistent," she said. "They go to a meet and get the job done."

Elk Grove update: Grens coach Amy Rivera has been a big fan of the development of Katie Talens and Hannah Baumeister so far this season. Talens, Rivera noted, has increased difficulty on skills such as pike tsuk, back tuck, back tuck connection on the beam and back layout 1½ on floor, while Baumeister has ramped up the difficulty with back-to-back high superior jumps on beam, a front flyaway from a switch grip on bars, Rivera added.

"Katie and Hannah have been so driven in practice and are improving on every event in every practice," Rivera said. "They aren't just cleaning up their routines, they are working on and attaining the new skills faster than I can even believe. I am really excited to see them finally get everything in competition and prove to themselves and everyone else how competitive they can really be."

Maine West update: Warriors coach Amanda Harrison applauded Maribel Rodriguez for her bars finish at the Wheeling invitational. "Great bar finish by Maribel," she said. "It was her highest score of the season."