High School Sports

DES MOINES — In a taut four-team showdown of lineups that run deep with talent, the edge went to Mount Rainier High School.

The Rams, led by a pair of former level 10 club gymnasts, posted a school-record 177.3 points in their home gym and slipped past Jefferson (176.275), Emerald Ridge (175.425) and Beamer (173.95) to win the West Central 4A District gymnastics title Saturday night and earn the district's lone team berth to next weekend's state meet.

Competitive? The top four scores at the meet were higher than scores posted at separate meets Saturday by the three other state qualifiers — Mead (173.825), defending state champion Newport (172.825) and Woodinville (171.9).

Jefferson coach Deb Hunter, whose squad finished second at state last year, conceded the outcome hurts, but emphasized she has no regrets.

"We were pleased," said Hunter, in her 36th season of coaching at Jefferson. "We walked away feeling good. It doesn't matter about the score. Yes, it does, but we had a good, solid meet. We had a better meet than we had last week (at the league meet), so redeemed ourselves from that. It's just great competition when it's that close."

Mount Rainier's Cheyenne Gavino won the all-around with a total of 37.625, and teammate Baylee Hamilton placed third (37.325). The two seniors, former level 10 club performers, are competing for their school for the first time this season.

"I'm really lucky," coach Alison Kestle said. "it's been a really fun year to have them on the team. We can improve more going into state. We had a few falls we can fix. This shows we can compete for a state title."

Gavino won vault (9.55). Jefferson senior Madi Kellar was second in all-around (37.625) and won on bars (9.425). Elizabeth Clemens of Emerald Ridge (9.65) edged Kellar by a fraction (9.625) on beam and Jefferson's Monica Church was sensational while winning floor (9.75).

West Central 3A District

At Mount Rainier, Enumclaw (173.75) and Auburn Mountainview (158.425) claimed the top two spots to advance to state. Enumclaw sophomore Olivia Bannerot won the all-around (37.2), followed by Kristen Rodal of Highline (37.05) and Molly Mattheis of Enumclaw (35.1). Bannerot took first on floor (9.675) and bars (9.3). Rodal won on vault (9.6).

Enumclaw placed second at state last year in the program's inaugural season.

"The first year competing for our school, we had so much energy. We were so pumped," Bannerot said. "This year is exactly the same, but now we know more what to expect. That helps."

Sea-King 4A District

At Sammamish, Newport sophomore Candace Ho won the all-around crown to lead the defending 4A state champion Knights to a narrow win over Woodinville. This is the first year of a two-year span in which the Sea-King District advances two 4A team qualifiers to state. Last year, Jefferson and Beamer advanced from the West Central.

Newport prevailed despite opening on beam and having seven falls.

"We had such a good week of practice, too," Newport coach Melissa Baker said. "As coaches, we were speechless. But we improved after that."

Notes

At the 4A regional meet for Spokane, Tri-Cities and Vancouver-area schools at Spokane's Central Valley High School, Mead won by more than 12 points. Nicole Moss of Heritage won the all-around (36.375). In January Mead has posted the state's only 180 this season.

"We had a couple of falls, so this wasn't our best meet," Mead coach Laurie Chadwick said by phone.

In the 3A regional, University (167.875) edged defending 3A state champion Kamiakin (167.75). Alana Norman of Shadle Park and Michelle Fletcher of Kamiakin tied for the all-around title (37.35).