Defending champion Mead places four gymnasts into state meet, fails to qualify as team

Last year’s State 4A champion Mead finished in third place at the 4A Regional gymnastics meet Saturday at Mount Rainier High School in Des Moines, Wash. – failing to qualify for the state meet as a team – but four Panthers reached individual qualifying marks.

Mead’s Hanna Bjerkestrand, Josie Nesbitt, Kaitlyn Engen and Cadie Pratt all qualified for next weekend’s state meet.

Also qualifying from the GSL were McKinzie Carter and Izzy Erdem of Central Valley. Ferris’ Tori Domini and Shelby Kantner. Emerald Ridge finished first and Thomas Jefferson second in the team competition.

The state gymnastics championships will be held for all classifications Friday and Saturday at the Tacoma Dome.

3A Regional

University was the top Greater Spokane League finisher, placing second behind state team-qualifier Kamaikin at the 3A Regional held at Southridge High School in Kennewick.

GSL gymnasts advancing to state are University’s Moriah Knowles, Taylor Rydeen, Shantel Singh, Jessica Vent-Gmeiner and Katelyn Nemitz; Shadle Park’s Hayley Barry and Alexiz Samuelson; North Central’s Courtney Wanke and Mt. Spokane’s Jade Anderson.