Sandburg/Stagg assistant gymnastics coach Krystyn Misheck had some advice for freshmen duo Maddy Roe and Holly Chudzik about competing at state this week.
She tried to cover the good and the bad, and she should know. In three trips to state, Misheck won nine medals, including a state championship in the floor exercise in 2009.
The good?
“Just enjoy it. Do what you know how to do and do your best,” Misheck said.
The bad? Misheck may be a tad emotional.
“It will be my first time back at state so I’ll probably be crying with all the memories,” Misheck said with a laugh.
Beginning Friday at Palatine, Roe and Chudzik will get their first crack at carving out a niche at the state level with the preliminaries starting at 5:05 p.m. The championship finals begin at 5:45 p.m. Saturday.
Roe will compete in all four events, with Chudzik in the floor exercise.
For freshmen bursting onto the high school scene this year, Roe and Chudzik have quite the support system in not only head coach Mike White, but also assistants Misheck and Michelle Wayne, a key performer on Sandburg’s team that finished second in state in 2009.
A longtime coach in the program, White knows what he’s talking about, but having someone who’s been in their shoes? Roe won’t pass that up.
“Krystyn has helped me with so much,” Roe said. “The rough times where it is stressful, she knew how it felt. She knew all about it. Such a big help, and I’m lucky to have her.”
Wayne said, as assistants, they are simply trying to set the stage.
No surprises, just be ready.
“Get them hyped, build them up, and I’m excited to see them compete,” Wayne said. “They have the skills. They have the routines, and they’re going to score well. They need to believe that.”
The freshmen duo is glad to have each other as they step into the lion’s den that is the state meet.
Hopefully, it won’t be so overwhelming with a friend by their side.
“It’s really exciting knowing two freshmen made it to state,” Chudzik said. “It’s even more satisfying knowing I’m going with my best friend. We’ve been friends the last five years so we’re comfortable together.”
Roe and Chudzik won’t be alone either. Along with the coaching staff, the entire co-op team is road-tripping to Palatine to root their teammates on.
Now, it’s time to put it all together on the biggest stage.
“I’m going for my best, trying to place top five, top 10,” Roe said. “I think I can do it so we’ll have to wait and see what happens.”
White certainly knows what his freshmen can do.
“Maddy wants to go for it, wants to get finals in all four events and win the all-around,” White said. “She wants to turn it up. Holly’s floor routine is good enough for finals as is. Her scores have been mid-nines for a while now, and she’s just very talented.”
Tim O’Brien is a freelance writer.
State Girls Gymnastics Meet
When: Friday and Saturday at Palatine.
Area competitors
Vault — Una Farrell, Lincoln-Way co-op; Kaila Pohrte, Lincoln-Way co-op; Maddy Roe, Sandburg/Stagg; Skylor Hilger, Shepard. Uneven Parallel Bars — Roe, Hilger. Balance Beam — Hilger, Pohrte, Roe. Floor Exercise — Roe, Holly Chudzik, Sandburg/Stagg, Hilger
