Hall of fame nod triggers gymnast’s happy memories
Bonnie Wiggins felt like her competitive gymnastics career existed in a past life.
Once she ruined a knee on a vault dismount at the University of Missouri decades ago, coming back too soon from mononucleosis as a freshman for Illinois State University, that was that. Finished.
And she was great. Starting in the sport at 6, by 11 she was a member of the United States Association of Independent Gymnastics Clubs Junior Elite National Team.
She left the club scene to have a “normal” life, she said, but as a gymnast at Rolling Meadows High School she rocked it.
Wiggins — then Bonnie Higgins, she’s been married 32 years to Hinsdale Central boys soccer coach Mike Wiggins — earned 13 medals in the Illinois High School Association finals, capped by the vault title as a senior in 1988.
It was a title she never thought she’d win after all those close calls, like second in all-around by .05 points as a sophomore.
Her coach, the retired Al Galatte, totaled it up: Of 80 chances spanning conference and state series meets, Higgins won 73 medals.
“Bonnie is arguably one of the most decorated girls in the history of the IHSA,” said Rolling Meadows athletic director Jim Voyles.
When she landed wrong at Missouri it was over. She studied interior design at Illinois State, plied that trade and coached a little after college, got married, had three children, drove them everywhere, and now is a grandmother with another on the way.
“I never really thought about it as it was happening then,” Wiggins said of gymnastics, “and it just kind of ended because I blew out my knee in college.”
Recently she had occasion to dust off the memories. Galatte nominated her for the Illinois High School Girls Gymnastics Coaches Association Hall of Fame, where she was inducted after the Feb. 21 preliminaries of the girls state meet at Palatine High School.
Wiggins joined honorees such as fellow inductee David Calisch, the Hoffman Estates girls coach and nine-time Mid-Suburban League West coach of the year; IHSGGCA senior gymnast Naomi Campbell of Willowbrook; Palatine gymnasts Jolee Waddington and Stephanie Vrbancic; and Julie Blasinski of the Antioch-Lakes co-op.
The nomination caused Wiggins to review her gymnastics career and to “have a little conversation with myself,” she said, when writing her acceptance speech.
Hearing what Galatte said about her during the ceremony at Palatine — also an IHSGGCA inductee, he flew in from Florida to introduce her — drove it home.
“I feel like it was a really good thing for me to go through. Acknowledging that I did any of this stuff and thinking about it and listening to it. It’s almost like being a different person,” Wiggins said.
“I guess I was pretty good.”
All-around great time
The day after the gymnastics association awards, coach Kristyn Campos’ Downers Grove North-Downers Grove South co-op won its second state title in three seasons.
Once they reached District 99 turf after leaving Palatine, the squad known as the “Trostangs” picked up a convoy for a congratulatory parade that hit both high schools.
“We could feel the excitement from everyone who came to support us after our state championship win. Being able to share this moment with the people who've supported our gymnastics team along the way was something really special,” said Downers Grove South senior Genevieve Herion, who won the all-around and balance beam.
“Seeing everyone smile and cheer for us showed that all of our hard work and determination was all worth it. It was a moment I'll never forget and a really unique experience that I was glad to be a part of,” she said.
Sportsman on ice
This writer’s always been a sucker for the National Hockey League’s Lady Byng Award for sportsmanlike play since hero Stan Mikita won the award twice after veering from chippy stick work.
The Chicago Catholic Hockey League has a similar award, the Virginia McPartlin Memorial Sportsmanship/Scholar Award, or the “Lady Ginger.”
Benet Academy senior forward Daniel Quinlan won the Lady Ginger this season, deservedly so, said 16-year Redwings coach Andrew Schlie, CCHL coach of the year.
“We’re super-proud of Danny. It’s the right fit, it really is. He is that person. He epitomizes everything that award stands for. He’s productive on the ice, but he does it in a very respectful and team-first way,” Schlie said.
“He has one penalty all year, he has 38 points on the year in 51 games. He’s just a good person. Then you throw in all the good things he does off the ice, he’s just a great kid,” Schlie said, noting Quinlan’s hospital volunteerism and work with youth hockey.
Schlie’s son, Hudson, a senior forward, earned CCHL MVP and Outstanding Player. Hudson Schlie has 39 goals and 48 assists in 54 games entering both Saturday’s Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois (AHAI) Red Division quarterfinals, and the CCHL Kennedy Cup championship.
The Redwings (42-10-2) play St. Ignatius in the best 2-of-3 series, tentatively starting March 6 with Benet hosting at Seven Bridges Ice Arena in Woodridge.
doberhelman@dailyherald.com