State gymnastics: Kamiakin claims third straight state title

TACOMA – Kamiakin won its third consecutive State 3A/2A gymnastics title Friday night, dominating an eight-team field with a score of 180.475 points.

The Braves, of Kennewick, kept Mt. Spokane out of this year’s state team championships after claiming the lone berth available at their district meet last Saturday.

Mt. Spokane, which posted 171.325 points to Kamiakin’s 176.25 at district, put two gymnasts in the top 16 in the all-around championships: senior Jade Anderson in ninth (35.325) and junior Reigan Kampmann in 11th (35.125).

Following Kamiakin in an eight-team field were Holy Names of Seattle (174.225), Columbia River of Vancouver (164.15) and Enumclaw (160.475). Ali Tate of Auburn won the all-around title (37.225).

In the 4A meet, Woodinville set a team record at 187.375 while winning its third straight 4A title and seventh in the last 10 years. Woodinville’s Marisa Savzage (38.475) won the all-around.

Qualifiers for Saturday’s individual event championships included Mead’s Zella Conley on vault and uneven bars and Bethany Gehrett on balance beam. Conley placed fourth on vault (9.7)

Although Mt. Spokane did not officially compete as a team at the meet, it accumulated enough points (129.45) to have finished a respectable ninth. Sehome of Bellingham was eighth at 145.55.

Second-year Wildcats coach Dana Hunt was nevertheless happy with her team’s efforts.

“My girls most definitely deserved to be here as a team,” Hunt said. “Maybe next year.”

“I just want the public to know that we are a group of gymnasts who practice gymnastics four months out of the year and are still improving from year to year within those four months,” Hunt said.

“They’re doing what high school gymnasts should be doing. I couldn’t be more proud of them, and considering these kids work out just four months a year, they killed it this year. And if I was coaching them 12 months a year, they would have done even better.”

Anderson and Kampmann qualified to compete on vault and floor exercise in Saturday’s individual event championships. Kampmann was seventh and Anderson eighth on vault Friday. Anderson tied for sixth on floor (9.4) and Kampmann tied for eighth (9.375). Anderson also qualified on beam.

Anderson competed despite becoming ill previous night.

“I have no clue what it is,” Anderson said, “but whatever it is, I do not wish it on anyone else. Nose, throat, stomach, everything. I’ve taken all the medication I can. It hit me Thursday night, and it hit me hard. It was hard to get the energy to do what I needed to so and stay focused. My mind would wander off. I need a little nap.”

Wildcats Brooke Fraser and Carly Hattenburg qualified to compete on beam. Kenzie Moxley qualified on floor.