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U-Hi, Central Valley Favorites At District

By Mike Vlahovich mikev@spokesman.com(509) 927-2180

Rachelle Quinn, Amie Tonani and Amber Hulbert could become University High’s first four-year state meet participants.

It would take a top-four team finish at Friday night’s Greater Spokane League district meet at North Central, and a top-two team finish at regionals to do that.

But history is on the side of the Titans. They won their third straight GSL championship with a 21-0 record, and fourth in five years.

“I think they broke our team record this year with a 169.85,” said U-Hi coach Stacey Heaton. “Our dream is to break 170 and our biggest goal is to place better than seventh at state.”

Four Titans seniors, including Melody Schlaffman, out last year because of injury, will join unbeaten all-around junior performer Kim Meyers, sophomore Kalie Cossette and freshman Coleen Pierce in defense of U-Hi’s district title.

University’s major challenge will come from district rival and league runner-up Central Valley. Together, the two teams had nearly 80 percent of the top three all-around and individual event places.

Returning district and regional all-around qualifier Angie Giroux and teammates Michelle Gharst, Lindsay Linerud and Bethany Porter have been nearly as dominant as the Titans.

Mead, Ferris and North Central should fight it out for the last two regional team berths.

The Panthers, led by Kelly Herron and Amanda Dibble, were third in league. After losing defending district champ Liz Miller to injury, Ferris settled for a fourth-place tie with the Indians, winners of nine of their last 12 matches.

xxxx GSL DISTRICT GYMNASTICS Place and Time: North Central High School, Friday, 6:30 p.m. What’s at stake? Top four teams plus additional highest finishing three all-around performers and seven individuals in four events advance to regionals next week in Pasco. Who’s back? Last year’s all-around runner-up Kim Meyers of University, sixth-placer Angie Giroux from Central Valley, U-Hi ninth-placer Kalie Cosette and state bars and beam qualifier Michelle Gharst of CV. Who’s missing? Defending district all-around champion Liz Miller of Ferris, out for the year with injury, and fourth-place Justyn Giachetti of Rogers, no longer in the program.