GYMNASTICS: Jefferson, Kellar win West Central District crowns; Beamer, West second

By Casey Olson • February 14, 2011 5:12 pm
Thomas Jefferson's Madi Kellar hits a pose during her floor exercise performance Friday during West Central District III State Qualifying meet at Mt. Rainier High School. Kellar won the all-around title and helped the Raiders win the team competition.
Thomas Jefferson's Madi Kellar hits a pose during her floor exercise performance Friday during West Central District III State Qualifying meet at Mt. Rainier High School. Kellar won the all-around title and helped the Raiders win the team competition.

The Thomas Jefferson Raiders and Madi Kellar continued their roll through the postseason Friday by snaring the Class 4A West Central District District team title over Beamer at Mount Rainier High School.

Just like at the South Puget Sound League Sub-district meet, the Raiders narrowly edged the Titans. Jefferson tallied 170.7 points, which was just 2.2 points ahead of Beamer. The Titans did finish unbeaten in the SPSL, including a win over the Raiders during both teams’ regular-season finale.

Both teams advance into the Class 4A Gymnastics Championships Friday and Saturday inside the Tacoma Dome Exhibition Center. The Raiders and Titans will be joined in the team competition by Newport and Mead. Team competition starts at 9 a.m. Friday and individual events will be contested at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Newport earned the Sea-King District’s one and only berth to state Saturday by beating Woodinville with 171.425 points. Woodinville has won the last four state team championships. Mead tallied 169.275 points to win the Eastern Washington region.

Individually, it was all Kellar. The Jefferson junior was again impressive during the West Central District meet and is also primed to bring home a state title.

Kellar claimed the all-around championship with 37.075 points in the four individual events. Kellar outdueled Beamer’s Sam West, who finished with 36.7 points. Kellar also outdistanced West last week to win the SPSL all-around title.

Kellar finished first on the uneven parallel bars with a 9.45 and also won the balance beam with a 9.525. West ended up second on the bars with an 8.95 and second on the beam with a 9.275.

West, also a junior, won the West Central District title a season ago and went on to finish second in the all-around at the state championships. The performance helped the Titans finish second in the team standings.

Kellar ended up fifth in the all-around and helped the Raiders snag fourth-place as a team.

Jefferson’s Monica Church ended up in a tie for second on the vault with a 9.35 and won the floor exercise with a 9.525. Her twin sister, Shelby Church, finished third on the floor with a 9.45.

2A/3A West Central District Championships

The Decatur Gators will also be represented at the state championships. The Class 3A Gators will be sending six representative to the Tacoma Dome.

All-arounders Anna Paradee and Allison Sherwin qualified, as did individual event finalists Shawntel Bali, Karissa Kolman, Makayla Quam and Victoria Braun.

Paradee ended up seventh overall in the all-around with 33.450 points and Sherwin finished with 32.175.

Quam finished fourth on the balance beam with an 8.6 and Braun was fourth on the floor exercise with a 9.225. Bali will compete at state in all four individual events.

Enumclaw, Auburn Mountainview and Kennedy earned the three team berths to state. Enumclaw won with an impressive 170.325.

West Central 4A District Championships

At Mount Rainier H.S.

Team scores — Jefferson 170.70, Beamer 168.50, Emerald Ridge 164.175, Olympia 161.05, Puyallup 153.25, Kentlake 152.05.

All-around — 1, Madison Kellar, Jefferson, 37.075; 2, Sam West, Beamer, 36.7; 3, Elizabeth Clemens, Emerald Ridge, 36.95. Vault — 1, CaroLyne Schmidt, Emerald Ridge, 9.4; 2 (tie), Monica Church, Jefferson, and Bailey Haupt, Puyallup, 9.35. Bars — 1, Madison Kellar, Jefferson, 9.45; 2, Sam West, Beamer, 8.95; Elizabeth Clemens, Emerald Ridge, 8.4. Beam — 1, Madison Kellar, Jefferson, 9.525; 2, Sam West, Beamer, 9.275; 3, Elizabeth Clemens, Emerald Ridge, 9.2. Floor — 1, Monica Church, Jefferson, 9.525; 2, Kerrie Heckel, Mount Rainier, 9.475; 3, Shelby Church, Jefferson, 9.45.