Girls Gymnastics: Short-handed Spartans feel good about success at CSL North championships
BY DAN SHALIN Contributor January 31, 2012 2:42PM
Glenbrook North's Katie Burnside on the floor exercise in the CSL North Girls Gymnastics Championship at the Deerfield H.S. on Saturday, January 28, 2012. | Joel Lerner~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: March 3, 2012 8:42AM
Glenbrook North girls gymnastics coach Julie Holmbeck could look at her team’s 131.68 score at Saturday’s CSL North Meet in Deerfield and wonder what might have been if the team had been healthy.
After all, the Spartans, who finished second at the meet behind the host Warriors (136.38) were without Sari Grad and Jane Nellis, talented sophomores who have missed much of the season with injury.
However, rather than dwelling on their absence, the coach has decided to celebrate the performances of her remaining gymnasts, who upped the team’s score from 124 to 131 in a matter of months.
“These girls have rallied and done a great job,” the coach said. “(Leading up to conference) the girls worked on connections, added some tricks and tried to clean things up. They added some points and competed well.”
At conference, the Spartans once again were led by freshmen Carli Betman and Tatum Zaransky. Betman won vault (9.3), finished second in all-around (35.075), second on floor (9.075), third on beam (8.575) and sixth on bars (8.1).
Zaransky finished sixth in all-around (32.95), which included third place on floor (8.85), eighth place on bars (7.775) and ninth place on beam (7.925).
“The two freshmen, they’ve been No. 1 and No. 2 for me all season. What I love about them, they are great to work with and quick learners. They are just fun girls,” Holmbeck said. “They don’t have an attitude and we really enjoy them in the gym. I see great potential for both of them. I keep talking to them about what skills they should have for next year. For sure, they will be in the state meet coming up soon.”
Another strong performance at conference was turned in by junior Miriam Mikhelson, who came in seventh on floor (8.4) and beam (8.1) and eighth in all-around (32.325).
Spartan junior Val Bobart took sixth on vault (8.7) and 10th on bars (7.65). Glenbrook North senior Katie Burnside helped the team score by earning 7.0 on bars, 6.55 on beam and 8.075 on floor. Freshman Kendall Barrett was called up to varsity for the conference meet and ended up scoring 8.025 on vault and 7.8 on floor.
The Spartans did not have much time to prepare for the Lake Forest Regional, which was set for Tuesday. Qualifying teams and individuals advance to the Niles North Sectional, at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 9.
Holmbeck said she tried her best to simulate the big-meet schedule at practice.
“We gave them a pressure set on Friday,” the coach said. “We did not give them much of a warmup. We just let them test the equipment and then go cold (before conducting skills). There were some jitters, but it worked. They competed really well on Saturday. The great thing about these girls is that they really do well under pressure. I’m hoping it continues this way.”
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