When freshman Molly Alcorn stepped off the bus and walked into the Maine East gym for the JV and varsity girls gymnastics teams’ dual meets on Dec. 12, she did not know which team she was going to compete for.

Alcorn, a member of the JV team, said she did not find out she would be competing on varsity until she was in the middle of warm-ups and saw her name in the lineup. In minutes, she would compete in her first varsity dual meet.

“I was a little more nervous than I normally [am] for meets because I kind of felt like I had to do better than I normally do since I was competing at a higher level, and I felt like what I did kind of mattered more,” Alcorn said.

According to Julie Holmbeck, girls gymnastics head coach, the team has dealt with injuries throughout the season, which have caused some varsity gymnasts and Alcorn to step up in the lineup. Despite the injuries, she said the team has had a good season with a conference record of 4-1 and a third place finish out of nine teams at the Glenbrook North Spartan Classic.

The team started the season with a loss to New Trier and a seventh place finish out of 18 teams at the Al Galatte Invitational. Senior Alexandra Michalak took first place on beam out of 50 gymnasts at the invite.

     Michalak, a four-year varsity member, said she was named captain each of the last two seasons due to her experience and skill level. This experience includes a trip to the state meet her sophomore year where she finished 20th on beam.

              “Alex Michalak always comes through,” said Holmbeck. “She is the top girl on beam, and her bars [routine has] just really cleaned out.”

Holmbeck said that due to a knee injury suffered on vault, Michalak missed a few competitions in December and is the only varsity gymnast who does not compete in all-around competition but instead just beam and bars.

Michalak said junior Brittany Ullrich is also a key member of the team. Ullrich finished eighth out of 50 gymnasts in the all-around at the Glenbrook North Spartan Classic on Dec. 9 and eighth all-around at the Chester Jones Invitational at Evanston on Jan. 7.

“She’s really dedicated, … and she’s really motivated to do really well,” said Michalak. “She always is trying new skills and trying to improve.”

According to Holmbeck, Ullrich has suffered several injuries, her most recent being a severe ankle sprain which caused her to be out for several weeks and only compete in bars at the conference meet. Injuries to some of the more experienced gymnasts have given other gymnasts opportunities to compete.

Alcorn said she competed against Maine East because of injuries to Michalak and sophomore Bridget Billig in December and scored a personal best on beam in the team’s win. She also competed in a victory over Vernon Hills on Jan. 11 due to injuries suffered by Ullrich and junior Kelly Lazar.

“[Alcorn] did a nice job and had a nice night [against Vernon Hills] for us,” said Holmbeck. “[She] competed all-around for us. … She will be looked to for conference and regionals. She will be my go to girl to pull up.”

Holmbeck said senior Katie Brownlee is a great role model for the rest of the team, and has recently stepped up, competing in all four events for the second time this season against Vernon Hills. She earned personal best scores of 8.8 out of 10 on floor, 8.65 on beam, and 8.1 on bars.

“Katie Brownlee had an exceptional meet,” said Holmbeck. “She did a great job and won [the] all-around.”

The rest of the team is rounded out by Billig, Lazar and freshman Roxy Goldfarb.

At the CSL North conference meet on Jan. 28, the team earned second place behind Deerfield. Goldfarb won vault with a score of 9.125 and finished sixth all-around, while Brownlee and Billig finished seventh and eighth all-around respectively.

Holmbeck said each gymnast brings a different element to the team.

“All [original] six girls [and Alcorn] are very strong competitors and bring that special edge to the team,” said Holmbeck. “Without any one of them, we wouldn’t be where we are.”