Gymnastics: Mead outlasts University to win 4A regional meet

Sophia Shawen led a Mead sweep of the floor exercise with a score of 9.55 as the Panthers claimed the team title at the 4A regional championship at the Mead Gymnastics Center on Saturday.

Alexis Weller (9.475) and Annalise Thaxton (9.35) finished second and third, respectively, in the floor exercise for the Panthers, who finished with a team score of 170.1 to University’s 168.1.

U-Hi’s Alina Helbling won the all-around title with a score of 36.925. Ferris teammates Alexandra Thomas (36.6) and Maile Rocha (35.875) rounded out the top three placers.

Helbling also won individual titles on the uneven bars (9.975) and balance beam (9.7).

Thomas won the vault with a score of 9.0 over Mead’s Kiyanna Nguyen (8.7).

Mt. Spokane took second place and qualified for state at the 3A/2A regional meet at Kamiak High School in Mukilteo, Washington.

The state meet begins Thursday at Sammamish High School in Bellevue.