Moyer adds to Mead’s big weekend at state gymnastics

TACOMA – Mead gymnast Victoria Moyer understands any athlete’s season has its ups and down, but it’s fun when the up moments come at the right time.

Moyer, who was a key component in clinching Mead’s first State 4A gymnastics championship Friday night, added a second-place medal for her performance on bars during Saturday’s individual event finals at the Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall.

Moyer, the only Mead gymnast to qualify for an individual final, posted a 9.45 on uneven bars, second only to 4A all-around champion Baylee Hamilton of Mount Rainier (9.65).

Moyer, a senior who finished eighth in all-around Friday, was still enjoying the afterglow of Friday’s team win.

“We started the year good and we’ve just gotten better,” she said. “We showed you don’t have to chuck the big skills to be the best. Our girls have worked really hard to be where we’re at.”

That includes Moyer.

“I have had a very hit-and-miss season,” Moyer said. “It was nice that when I got to regionals and state, I hit. It worked out.”

In 3A/2A competition, senior Alana Norman of Shadle Park earned a pair of third-place medals, for vault (9.65) and bars (9.075). Norman was co-state champ on vault in 2011.

“To come in a great score on vault again against good competition feels good,” said Norman, who executes a tsuk pike on vault. “It went great.”

Norman feels happy to have carried the East Side banner during her prep career. “My freshman and sophomore year, it was a West Side dominated sport,” said Norman, who plans to play softball at the University of Mary in North Dakota. “To see the East Side come in and have good meets, it feels awesome.”

Courtney Bray of Mt. Spokane placed sixth on balance beam with a score of 9.275 and 11th on vault (9.1). Amy House of University was 11th on floor exercise (9.375).