State Champs Recognized: Hersey Girls Gymnastics Won Team Title

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — For the first time in 40 years, the John Hersey High School girls gymnastics team reached the top milestone in Illinois scholastic sports — state champions. It was also the first state title in any sport for the school in the past 37 years. Recently, the squad and their coaches were recognized for the feat by the Arlington Heights Village Board.

"They're very excited to be here tonight, as we're very excited to have them bless our presence here this evening," said Arlington Heights Mayor Tom Hayes, who presented certificates to the team at the April 15 meeting. "We are just so blessed in this community to have so many high achievers amongst our young boys and girls, and our schools. That is the result of the quality of not only the kids, but their teachers, administrators, coaches, in this case, and also of course their families."

The IHSA state finals were held February 16 and 17 at Palatine High School. Hersey won the overall team title, holding off Downers Grove, with a score of 146.25. 1 to 145.4 for the runners-up. The Huskies were also divisional, league, sectional and regional champions this season.

In addition to the team accolades, Sabrina Nemcek dominated the individual competition. She was the top all-around performer with a score of 37.8. She also captured the uneven parallel bars (9.675) and was first in the vault (9.75).

The team is coached by Shannon Barrett, a special education teacher for Township High School District 214. Barrett has been coach of the Huskies for the past 11 years. Her assistants include Brad Kotrba, Kurt Waller and Joon Yun.

"I am really honored to have these girls on my team. I've never had a better group of girls that I've ever coached," Barrett said. "They are dedicated. They are driven. They are hard workers. They don't like the word, 'no,' so I tell them they need to stop. If they're injured, they keep going."

Barrett mentioned one of the gymnasts sustained an injury just three days before the state meet, but gutted it out to perform, and her score helped deliver the state title for Hersey.

2023-2024 John Hersey High School Girls Gymnastics

• Anna McCarthy
• Kelsey Ernst
• Jane Forsberg
• Jessica Getz
• Grace Johnson
• Jenna Lazzarra
• Evelyn Gradek
• Gianna Mazzola
• Sabrina Nemcek