Gymnastics | Woodinville earns chance to defend state title

BELLEVUE — One mission accomplished, two to go.

Woodinville gymnasts nailed three of four events to capture the Sea-King 4A District championship Saturday at Sammamish High School. The Falcons outscored 2006 state champion Bothell 181.9 points to 177.3 to earn the chance to defend their state team title next weekend at the Tacoma Dome. Issaquah was third with 171.9.

A third consecutive state title isn't the only thing on the Falcons' to-do list. They would like to accomplish it while scoring more than 185.4 points, the 4A state record set by Bellingham's Sehome High School in 1993.

Woodinville junior Hailey Wells, Saturday's all-around winner with 37.875 points, believes a state-record score is possible.

"We've hit all our event goals so far," she said, noting that Woodinville's best scores per event this season would put them near the record.

The Falcons appeared poised to shatter at least a school record after their first three events, but a subpar performance on uneven bars — where the Falcons had to count two scores below 8.0 — ripped the chance away.

The team was rescued by Wells, who stepped up and scored 9.4, good enough for the bars title. Wells also placed first on beam (9.575) and shared top honors on floor with Bothell senior Tracy Tsujii (9.525).

"She's the one that just goes out and gets it done," Woodinville coach Kim Fleming said of Wells, who placed fourth in the all-around at state last season. "It's really fun to watch as a coach how much she's progressed. But it's like that with all of them."

Woodinville sophomore Gina Puccio vaulted a sky-high Yurchenko pike to capture the vault title (9.425). Tsujii was the highest non-Woodinville scorer in the all-around, placing fourth with 36.775 behind Puccio (36.9) and senior Karin Ochsner (36.8). Tsujii and Inglemoor junior Amy Sisk advanced to state as all-around performers.

Only one team advances to the state championships from the ultracompetitive KingCo 4A. The state limit rankles some coaches, who say it's more difficult to qualify for state than it is to do well once there.

"We have kids that scored 9.4s that are not going to state," Bothell coach Mitch Craig said. "The WIAA has made a huge mistake in how they allocate, because they do not have the top teams in the state going to state."

Sea-King 3A District

At Sammamish, Bainbridge topped Mount Si 167.125-162.85 for the title. Shorecrest, third with 156.825, also advances to state. Holy Names's Katie Rock won the all-around (36.4), followed by Mount Si's Georgia Reynolds and Kathleen Callahan of Bainbridge.

West Central 4A District

At Auburn Mountainview, Puyallup (173.125) edged Kentlake (170.55) for the team title and both qualified for state. Kentlake's Kayla Shira (37.3) edged Puyallup's Chelsey Haskey (37.2) for the all-around crown. Shira also won on bars and Haskey (9.525) won beam. Rebecca Turnbow of Auburn Riverside took the floor exercise and Whitney Sidor of Emerald Ridge won vault.

West Central 3A District

At Auburn Mountainview, the home team led the qualifying for state, edging North Kitsap 167.925-155.125. Third-place Mount Rainier (151.0) also qualified. Capital's Mia Tabbutt was the all-around champion (36.95) and also won vault (9.45), bars (9.225) and beam (9.375). Mountainview senior Ashley Perkovich was first on floor (9.575).