Making Dad Proud: Glenbrook North Gymnast Qualifies For State

NORTHBROOK, IL — Isabel Gott has missed seeing her dad at gymnastics meets this season. Despite his absence, the Glenbrook North senior claimed qualifying spots on vault and uneven parallel bars for the Illinois State High School state final this weekend.

"He is my biggest fan. Due to medical reasons, he has not been in attendance," Gott tells Patch. "Each time before I compete, I pray. Before I step on the runway, I say in my head, 'make dad proud.'"

Gott, who also competed at state as a sophomore, automatically qualified for the meet with a top 5 finish in the vault (second, 9.5 score) and uneven parallel bars (tied for fourth, 9.2 score) at the Hoffman Estates sectional on Feb. 7. She was the only GBN gymnast to qualify as an individual. The two-day state meet runs Friday and Saturday at Palatine High School.

"I have gotten better at bars because I am doing the same routine as last year," Gott said. "This summer, I was committed to mastering the routine and making my form as flawless as possible. I feel I have improved a lot from last year. As for vault, I have pushed myself to compete a new and more difficult vault to improve my score."

Gott won't be alone in Palatine as her team qualified for the first time in 44 years.

"I am going to enjoy cheering for and sharing all the state memories with my teammates," Gott said.

Gott is excited to relive her experiences two years ago at state, when she qualified on the floor, with her fellow Spartans.

"The support and encouragement from my teammates and other competing athletes is amazing," Gott said. "It is such a cool experience to see packed stands all there to see and cheer for the gymnasts."

The Spartans are coached by Julie Holmbeck, who Gott credits for helping her perfect her skills and work on her attitude while competing. This has led to growth both as a gymnast and as a person, according to Gott.

Gott said her score on the vault at sectionals puts her at eighth in the state. She's hoping to make it to the second day of the meet and says placing in the top 5 or 3 "would be beyond my wildest dreams."

Her success on the discipline this season can be attributed to learning a new vault she started completing at the end of the last month — a full twist Tsuk.

Gott also credits her club coaches, Steve Bell and Kurt Waller, from the American Academy of Gymnastics, where she has trained for the last 11 years, for her accomplishments.

"My coaches and teammates there are my second family," Gott said. "They have helped me become the gymnast I am today."

The state meet will also be special for Gott because it may be her final competition as a gymnast. Though she says she's talked to some acrobatics and tumbling schools, she believes the end of her scholastic gymnastics career is near. Gott is hoping to study pre-occupational therapy next fall at the University of Missouri or the University of Iowa. Both schools have club gymnastics, so Gott says she may participate.

While her father won't be at the state meet, Gott knows he'll be thinking about her and she's already made him a very proud parent.

"He was in the hospital when our team won conference, when we won regionals, and when we made it to state. This has made it hard for me to focus," Gott said. "I love his texts before every meet with our saying 'do your best and forget the rest.' While he credits my work ethic and dedication, I credit him for being the silent strength behind my success."