U-Hi Finishes Gsl With Perfect Mark
Prep gymnastics
Coleen Pierce and Tara Hulbert have something in common, other than fine gymnastics abilities.
The seniors have never seen, and never will see, their University Titans lose a Greater Spokane League meet.
Fourth-ranked U-Hi (24-0) completed its fourth consecutive unbeaten GSL season Thursday, dominating the vault, uneven bars and balance beam to hold off seventh-ranked Central Valley (20-4) at CV.
Both teams compiled their best scores of the league season, but U-Hi’s 167.50 was too much for the Bears’ 163.65.
The Titans pulled away with their second and third events, vault and uneven bars, then stayed aboard the balance beam to clinch the win.
“We were pretty confident about the beam today,” said Pierce, whose 8.5 to complete the night tied for third place. “At every meet it has come down to the beam.”
Hulbert had U-Hi’s highlight, a tricky twirl on the bars for her season-best score of 9.1. The Titans outscored CV by two points on the bars, the biggest gap of the night.
“Tara’s been working on that all year, and she was finally able to put it together tonight,” said U-Hi coach Stacey Heaton. “She’s the only one in the GSL doing it.”
U-Hi freshman Alisa Brandle tied CV sophomore Emily Roberts for the all-around title with a 34.80. Brandle won the floor exercise (9.05) and the beam (9.0). The beam mark was the second-highest in the league this year, while the floor was third-best, including her own 9.1.
Pierce finished third all-around, while U-Hi’s Vanessa Cordova and CV’s Lindsay Linerud tied for fourth. Linerud set her season best on the vault (8.9) to win the event.
CV questioned some tough judging, especially Linerud’s bars routine that earned just 7.65, but coach Kim Brunelle said any inconsistencies wouldn’t have affected the outcome.
Heaton praised her girls for standing up to the pressure of U-Hi’s streak, which is 34 consecutive GSL meets, during which the Titans are 107-0. U-Hi’s last GSL loss was Dec. 9, 1993, at CV.
CV nearly defeated U-Hi two weeks ago at Ferris, but the Titans had since scored more than 167 points at the Sehome Invitational.
The upcoming focus is Friday’s District 8-4A meet at North Central. Freshman Shelby Stang finished ninth all-around to help Shadle Park (12-12) outpoint Rogers (7-17).
At Mead, Kacey Frederickson won the bars (8.65) and placed second all-around (34.0) to help ninth-ranked Ferris (19-5) win a five-way meet with NC (15-9), Mead (8-16), Lewis and Clark (2-22) and Mt. Spokane (1-23).
NC’s Amber Baines scored her season-best 34.5 to win the all-around, with victories on floor (8.75), beam (8.85) and vault (8.8). Mead’s Kelsie Slack was fifth all-around and fifth on vault. Mt. Spokane’s Kristen Halberson placed sixth on floor.
, DataTimes