U-Hi Dominates Regionals, Earns Another Trip To State

4A Gymnastics

Coach Stacey Heaton went out on a limb and was proven right.

University’s gymnastics team stormed back in a big way Saturday, scoring 167.65 points to easily top the field of the Region IV-4A meet at Southridge High.

The Titans secured the lone team berth to next weekend’s State 4A meet in the Tacoma Dome. U-Hi has advanced to state five consecutive years.

U-Hi’s performance came one week after Central Valley edged the Titans for the district title, U-Hi’s first loss to a Greater Spokane League team since December 1993.

Heaton showed her support for the team immediately after district by proclaiming that she considered the loss a “fluke” and saying that the Titans would bounce back.

Bounce back they did, topping the field by more than four points with individual wins in three of four events and four all-around competitors in the top seven.

“We made up our minds as soon as last Friday,” Heaton said. “This win meant a lot to us.”

Titans senior Tara Hulbert won the vault and uneven bars. She finished second in the all-around with a 34.70, .05 behind CV sophomore Emily Roberts.

Coleen Pierce, another U-Hi senior, won the balance beam and placed sixth all-around.

Ferris, third in league and district, edged CV 163.55-163.20 for second place. Saxons senior Kacey Frederickson won the floor exercise and was third all-around.

Roberts and Frederickson advance to state in the all-around competition. The top five in each event not from U-Hi also advance to state.

, DataTimes