New-look New Trier gymnastics impresses in early going

Following the graduation of three, all-around leaders, New Trier gymnastics was poised for a rebuilding season.

But that really hasn’t taken, said hall-of-fame coach Jen Pistorius.

Pistorius, who in February was inducted into the Illinois Gymnastic Coaches Hall of Fame, said newcomer Harper Jacobs, experienced specialists Anna Virgili and Elena Scarano, and offseason effort makes the new-look Trevians more formidable than expected.

“Everybody was trying to figure out if this is a rebuilding year or a year we’re going to work on things, but the team and coaches were pleasantly surprised with the hard work the girls had put in,” she said, “and we were in a better place than originally people were thinking. … The scores aren’t showing it. We still have a lot of work to do getting everything together.”

The Trevians opened their season with dual-meet wins against Maine East on Dec. 4 and Evanston on Dec. 9, scoring 132.9 and 135.8 points respectively. In both meets, Jacobs, a sophomore in her first year with New Trier gymnastics, won the all-around title.

In their first invite, New Trier placed fifth out of eight teams on Dec. 13 at Hinsdale Central’s Estoque Invite. Scarano, a senior co-captain, tied for third in the floor exercise and Jacobs placed 10th on vault and floor.

Pistorius said floor is a new event for Scarano, who she said has stepped up as the Trevians look to fill in the hole left by last year’s stars Clara Crossgrove (the IHSA floor exercise champion), Taylor Kim and Sammy Mills.

“She’s been doing really well in that event for us,” Pistorius said. “(Scarano) saw where we needed some steps to fill in.”

Jacobs, said Pistorius, is enjoying the high school atmosophere so far and she expects the sophomore to be a lineup leader.

Virgili adds a boost on vault and bars, while sophomore Karis Park is firmly in the varsity lineup, competing on floor, vault and bars.

Other contributors, Pistorius said, include sophomore Emily North (floor), juniors Kaya Cravens and Zoey Junker, and sophomore Miya Schaffner, an all-arounder who has not competed yet this season as she nurses a back injury.

“We’ll need her back in the lineup. She’ll be a big help once she can come back in,” Pistorius said.

The Trevians are looking to qualify for the IHSA finals as a team for the third straight season — placing seventh in both state competitions.

The process continues on Saturday, Dec. 20, when New Trier hosts nine teams for its Holiday Invite.

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