University Floors Ferris
Prep gymnastics
Guess what the University Titans said Thursday after completely dominating a strong Ferris gymnastics team.
Just wait until we’re at full strength.
Led by all-around champion Kim Meyers and event winners Coleen Pierce (balance beam) and Kalie Cossette (floor exercise), the Titans beat Ferris 165.7-159.6 in the first key Greater Spokane League showdown of the season.
U-Hi (6-0) finished 1-2 in every event and took the top three positions in the all-around. The Titans have won 15 consecutive GSL fourway meets.
Yet after the awards were doled out at Shadle Park, U-Hi coach Stacey Heaton said the Titans had room for improvement.
“Believe it or not, Kim was down a little bit,” said Heaton, referring to her senior’s second-place finishes in the balance beam and floor exercise.
Also, floor champion Cossette is slightly injured and Tara Hulbert, runner-up in the parallel bars, can’t compete in the floor because of an injury.
“But this team has the will to win,” Heaton said. “Like Cossette, who just grits her teeth and goes out there.”
Ferris (5-1) was considered a serious challenger to U-Hi’s long league winning streak because the Saxons scored more points than U-Hi last week when both won season-opening four-ways.
The Titans, however, were better in every event Thursday. The high point, Heaton said, was a 40.75-38.55 edge on the bars. Topped by Meyers’ 9.15, U-Hi swept the top four places in the event.
Ferris senior Liz Miller, one of the league’s finest gymnasts, was limited to a 7.9 on the bars and settled for fourth place (33.45) in the all-around.
The anticipated head-to-head between Meyers and Miller faded after Miller’s low score in the bars, her third event. The two were the final competitors of the night - Meyers on the vault and Miller on the balance beam - and Miller acknowledged her friend’s solid meet with a pat on the back.
Seconds later, Meyers stuck a 9.1 on the vault - by far the best mark on the night.
“We just had a very good meet,” Meyers said. “We really pulled together. Maybe it was the added pressure (of competing against Ferris).”
Ferris has a chance to get back on track when the teams meet again Wednesday at North Central.
Lewis and Clark (1-5) edged the host Highlanders (0-6) for third, 120.85-119.9. Jennifer Pereira was 10th all-around for the Tigers. Mary Bass, who tied for eighth all-around, led Shadle.
In the night’s other four-way, at Rogers, Linsey Linerud (33.65) won every event to lead Central Valley over runner-up Mead 156.35-153.55. CV (4-2) tied Mead for third place.
Kelly Herron (31.70) of Mead finished second in the all-around. NC (3-3) outscored the 1-5 host Pirates 141.75-138.85.
, DataTimes