University Repeats As Regional Gymnastics Champ

University placed three gymnasts in the top 10 in the all-around competition, Saturday, to edge Greater Spokane League rival Central Valley 169-166.2, as the Titans defended their AAA GSL/ Big Nine Regional gymnastics title at Pasco High School.

The one-two finish allowed both the Titans and the Bears, who also had a trio of top 10 finishers, to advance to the state meet in the Tacoma Dome next weekend.

The Bears’ Angie Giroux (35.05) topped U-Hi’s Kim Meyers (34.55), who went undefeated in the GSL and won the GSL district championship, to claim second place in the allaround.

Dana Riste of Kamiakin swept the individual events to grab the regional all-around title and qualify for the state meet.

Giroux finished in the top six in every event, including a secondplace in the floor exercise.

Meyers, finished second on the bars and third on the vault, but was hurt by a 12th on the balance beam and a 15th on the floor exercise.

The top six finishers of non-state qualifying teams and non-all-around qualifiers in each event also advanced to the state competition.

Mead’s Kelly Herron led the list of individual qualifiers. She advanced in the floor, beam and bars and missed the all-around by fourtenths of a point.