Decosola and Santoro lead girls gymnasts

The girl’s gymnastics season has been underway for over two months and the girls have made a significant progress since the beginning of their season. Around twenty girls are still actively participating in the sport. Although they are technically “two” teams –a Varsity and a Junior Varsity- they act as one.

Senior gymnast Cayla Cerny said, “There are no real teams, but six of seven girls compete on the varsity team every competition, and the rest remain on the JV.” The girls have a competition at least once a week and attend invitationals on the weekend.

Cerny said, “The reason I participate in gymnastics is because it’s really fun to bond with the team and I like to bend my body in not normal ways.”

Freshmen Mary Penckofer said, “My favorite part of the season so far was attending the Varsity Invitational because it was very fun and it was a great time for the team to bond with each other.” Penckofer is new to gymnastics, but that has not affected her season. Her coach has helped her learn new tricks and develop her routines.

Junior Rachel Decosola has helped lead the team with a season record of 8.30. She is ranked number three all around at RB, while individually ranking number two on beam. 

Senior Kristen Santoro has been the leader of the team with her career high scores and being voted team captain. She continues to finish out her final season with receiving scores that have beaten her personal records.

The team finishes their season February 1, 2012.

Gymnastics finishes 4th at regionals, ending their season

The girls’ gymnastics season is over after a long winter of practices and meets.

The team was ranked 29^th for the most improved team in Illinois. The first score of their season is subtracted from their highest score, and RB’s total was a 5.10 improvement number.

On January 19^th, RB competed against Fenton on senior night. There were five seniors on the team, Kaitlynn Markowski, Emily Cain, Jackie LaManna, Ellie Hutcheson, and Chiara Ercoleri. Even though Fenton came out on top with a 130.00 over RB’s 112.85, the girls had a great senior night.

“This year has been so much fun. We all got really close as a team and I’ll miss everyone next year,” said Markowski.

The conference meet was the next week. The varsity team scored a 119.10, their highest team total this year. They placed fourth in conference, behind Oswego, Fenton, and Glenbard South. The JV team placed third in their conference, behind Oswego and Glenbard South. They also got their highest score of the season, with a 71.85.

The regional meet was supposed to be held on Wednesday, February 2^nd, but due to the snow, school was cancelled at many schools, including LTHS. The meet had to be rescheduled for February 4^th.

The girls’ scored a 117.675, earning them fourth place behind Downers Grove North, Naperville Central, and first place Lyons Township.

“This season was awesome. It was really fun to get to know everyone on the team a little better, and I hope next year will be the same,” said junior Kristen Santoro.

Gymnastics having best season so far

Girls’ gymnastics has been going strong this year, with new coach Tom Sisulak, returning coach Carrie Kozak, and many new members contributing to the team’s success.

In their first meet against Morton, they won with a team score of 108.6, with high scores made by sophomore Rachel Decosola on vault, senior Jackie LaManna on bars, junior Kristen Santoro on beam, and sophomore Ariel Moon on floor.

The next two meets against Geneva and Hinsdale South were close, but the team fell short to both schools. Although the team didn’t take a victory against Hinsdale South, many girls made personal best scores on their events and used new routines. Sophomore Christine Dinh competed for varsity on floor for the first time and scored a 7.15, and senior Ellie Hutcheson scored a 7.55, her highest score ever.

At the Maine East Beach Meet, the girls could use their creative sides and perform routines together. Santoro and senior Emily Cain performed a beam routine together to Marry Me and won the Most Creative award. Santoro, LaManna, Cain, and Moon performed a floor routine to Woka Woka and won the Best Teamwork award.

The Tri-Meet against Oswego and Dekalb ended in the team score of 119.05. All the girls continued to work hard and add to their routines.

“Our team scores have improved at every meet so far this year, which is awesome. We are expecting to continue this improvement with the competitions we have left in the season,” said Santoro.

The team doesn’t have any captains, but Moon and Santoro both said that Cain and Markowski take leadership roles on the team.

“Our coach isn’t always there breathing down our necks, so I have to make sure everyone stays motivated and stays in task,” said Markowski.

Gymnastics: new coach, new season, new team

Girls’ gymnastics has started again, with many new members and a new coach. Tom Sisulak is the new head coach for gymnastics, along with assistant coach Carrie Kozak.

“There’s a lot of new girls that have to start from scratch. It’s mostly just a learning experience,” said senior gymnast Kaitlynn Markowski.

“We’ve had a different coach each year. They all have their own techniques and ways of coaching,” said junior gymnast Kristen Santoro.

Sisulak starts off practice every day with a handshake to every girl on the team.

“He wants the team to be strong and bonded this year. He’s a very old school coach, and he likes to start with the basics,” said Markowski.

The varsity season looks promising this year, with their first meet coming up on November 29th.

“Everyone has improved a lot since last year. The team is looking good so far,” said junior gymnast Ariel Moon. “There is a lot of positive support and one-on-one work with the coaches,” she said.

“I’m looking forward to adding on and building off of last year. We always have a lot of fun,” said Santoro.

Girls gymnastics face new challenges

The girls’ gymnastics team is off to quite a different start this year. The team is facing some serious new changes. They have lost a lot of last years girls and they have a new coach, Jaclyn Messerges.

“The girls are fantastic and get along during practice,” says Messerges, the new coach “We have a small team since we lost a lot of girls but its still fun.”

Messerges herself has been a coach for 6 years and has been involved in gymnastics for 15 years. She participated in gymnastics all through college and at a division one school. This is her first year coaching here at RB though.

When asked if this years team had a chance of going to state Messerges said “I don’t know if we have a chance for state since we have such a small team.”

Although the team is small in size, their hopes of having both a successful and enjoyable year loom large.

“I’m looking forward to having a great season” says gymnast Kristen Santoro.