They are the Bears of girls` high school gymnastics, these Fremd Vikings. So cool, so confident, so complete. And oh so good.
They have the state`s best all-around gymnast in junior Michele Hernandez. So strong, so poised, so skilled. And, oh so very good.
”I don`t think anybody can beat Fremd or Michele Hernandez,” said Resurrection coach Susan Fosco. ”They have too much.”
What Fremd and Hernandez have will be on display at the 10th state meet Friday and Saturday at Palatine High School.
Hernandez and her team will attempt to become the first dual winners in state history. No state championship team has ever produced an all-around winner in the same season.
”We`re real optimistic,” said Fremd coach Larry Petrillo. ”The kids are all peaking. Each is thinking of individual as well as team goals.
”Michele? She knows she`ll have to be perfect if she wants to win.”
Perfection is a commodity the defending state champion Vikings have in abundance. They proved that by qualifying individuals in a record 15 places through four events and the all-around, either automatically or at-large.
Having scored a team-high 147.75 to win their sectional Feb. 13, the Vikings are rolling.
”I kept wondering when I`d wake up after sectionals,” Petrillo said.
”It was hit, hit, hit; roll, roll, roll. I`m not sure if we can surpass that score.”
The highest girls` team score ever recorded was 149.65 by Glenbard North during its 1983 regional. Last year`s Vikings set a state meet record of 145.35.
Can Fremd break its state record? How about the team mark? And what about that 149.65?
”I`m not worried about records,” said Perillo. ”We know that all it takes is a few mistakes and we`re down with the rest of the pack. There`s going to be some stiff competition at this meet.”
Other sectional winners competing in the finals include Deerfield
(144.75 at the Forest View sectional), Naperville Central (143.95 at Glenbard North) and Lyons Township (142.4 at Thornwood). At-large berths went to Palatine (144.2 at Fremd), Resurrection (143.6 at Fremd), Naperville North (143.5 at Glenbard North) and Hersey (143.15 at Forest View).
”With Fremd in the meet, it`s a fight for second,” Fosco said. ”I think it`s between us, Deerfield and Lyons. Palatine would have had a chance if not for their injuries.”
Palatine advanced despite injuries to seniors Betsy Skach (left knee)
and Candi Tholl (left ankle) at the Fremd sectional. Skach was injured during her dismount on the uneven parallel bars. Ironically, the routine earned Skach a 9.55, the highest sectional bars mark.
Deerfield freshman Laurie Gold`s 9.41 sectional all-around average is the state high. Stagg senior Lisa Peterson follows with a 9.3875, edging Hernandez`s 9.38.
