Gymnastics: Beamer vaults to West Central District championship over TJ

By Casey Olson • February 15, 2010 12:27 pm

The Todd Beamer gymnastics team had their best meet of the year at the perfect time.

The Titans outdistanced the Thomas Jefferson Raiders Saturday at the West Central 4A District Championships at Auburn Mountainview High School. Beamer got a huge day from Sam West to squeak by the SPSL North Division champion Raiders. The Titans tallied 171.4 points and Jefferson finished with 169.9. Both teams’ performances at the district meet qualified them for Friday and Saturday’s Class 4A State Championships, which will be held inside the Tacoma Dome’s Exhibition Center.

Puyallup entered the district meet as the slight favorite. The Vikings won last week’s SPSL sub-district meet, but struggled to a fifth-place finish Saturday in Auburn.

The Titans and West didn’t struggle at districts. West was the most consistent gymnast at the meet and was rewarded with the all-around title.

West out-performed Emerald Ridge’s CaroLyne Schmidt by totaling 36.775 points on the four events. Schmidt finished with 36.475 to claim the West Central District’s second automatic all-around berth into the state meet. Puyallup’s Chelsy Haskey finished third (36.3.75) and TJ’s Madi Kellar was fifth with 35.975 points.

West didn’t win any of the four individual events Saturday, but scored well in every event to amass points. West’s best individual finish came on the uneven parallel bars where she ended up in second place with an 8.85.

Kellar was also impressive in the individual events for the Raiders. Kellar dominated the balance beam, winning with a score of 9.65. She also finished second on the floor exercise with a 9.55.

Kellar led the Raiders all season long. Jefferson cruised through the SPSL North with a perfect 17-0 record, which was the first time the school finished unbeaten in league action.

Beamer’s Jessica Freeborn ended up in third place on the balance beam with a 9.4.

West Central 4A District Championships

At Auburn Mountainview H.S.

Team scores — Beamer 171.4, Jefferson 169.9, Emerald Ridge 166.2, Olympia 159.85, Puyallup 158.95, Auburn Riverside 152.125, Heritage 149.65, Mountain View 130.55.

FINALS

All-around — 1, Sam West, Beamer, 36.775; 2, CaroLyne Schmidt, Emerald Ridge, 36.475; 3, Chelsey Haskey, Puyallup, 36.375; 4, Britni Atwell, Heritage, 36.075; 5, Madi Kellar, Jefferson, 35.975.

Bars — 1, Chelsey Haskey, Puyallup, 8.9; 2, Sam West, Beamer, 8.85; 3, Bri McKenny, Tahoma, 8.7.

Beam — 1, Madi Kellar, Jefferson, 9.65; 2, Alexis Moore, Auburn, 9.475; 3, Jessica Freeborn, Beamer, 9.4.

Floor — 1, Britni Atwell, Heritage, 9.625; 2, Madi Kellar, Jefferson, 9.55; 3, Nora Keith, Kent-Meridian, 9.425.

Vault — 1, Bri McKenny, Tahoma, 9.375; 2, CaroLyne Schmidt, Emerald Ridge, 9.35; 3, Nora Keith, Kent-Meridian, 9.325.