Wolves can think really big in 2011

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PALATINE – Prairie Ridge’s girls gymnastics team has come a long way in a couple of years.

The Wolves could not even field a complete team for invitational meets two years ago. Last year, they had a team that could compete at the state level, but was too banged up from injuries to qualify. This season, they stayed healthy, qualified and almost brought home a team trophy.

Next year? It’s a long way off, but Prairie Ridge has every reason to dream big for 2010. Kali Herman, who came to high school after competing in club, is the only senior in the varsity lineup. Three of the juniors – Jenny Covers, Molly Sandquist and Taylor Weber – went home from the IHSA Girls State Gymnastics Meet this weekend in Palatine with medals.

“It’ll be great,” Weber said. “We’re going to set standards higher for the summer and keep improving our skills. It will be different [next year]. We’ll be stoked if we come, but the competition will be different. You don’t know what to expect until it comes.”

The Wolves were happy to be here this time, which was understandable. They hadn’t been to state as a team since 2002, when they took sixth out of eight teams. Next year, they’ll have the bulk of the lineup, the three medal-winners and junior Heather Kill, returning with state experience.

“It means so much more coming here with the team,” said Sandquist, a two-time individual state qualifier who tied for fifth Saturday night on the balance beam. “We have experience now and we know what it feels like and we’ll be better prepared.”

It would seem next year there will be a lot more pressure on the Wolves because of all this. Everyone’s expectations, starting with their own, will increase. Prairie Ridge coach Lee Battaglia believes his gymnasts can handle any pressure just fine.

“They don’t just compete high school, they all compete club and they’ve been doing this a long time,” Battaglia said. “The key to these kids is keeping them injury-free.”

Aside from Covers’ bruised left heel that set her back slightly this season, the Wolves remained in good shape. The results were remarkable, setting the tone for what could be something even better next year.

“This is like our run-through year,” Sandquist said.

Looking further ahead: The team will take on a different look in two years, but Prairie Ridge assistant coach Lisa Rumford said the long-term future looks bright as well. Rumford, who coaches with Battaglia at his Crystal Lake Gymnastics Training Center, said there are seven girls in sixth or seventh grade who are Level 8 or 9 gymnasts and will attend a D-155 school.

“By the time they get to high school, they should be Level 9 and 10,” Rumford said. “[Ten] is the highest level you can get. It should be exciting.”

Rumford said that seventh-grader Riley Mahoney, who will go to C-G, is a high Level 9 competitor now.

“She’s really looking forward to high school gymnastics,” Rumford said.

• Joe Stevenson covers high school sports for the Northwest Herald. He can be reached at 815-526-4513. He also can be reached by fax at 815-459-5640 or by e-mail at jstevenson@nwherald.com.