By Gerardo Bolong

Kennedy Catholic and Highline High School individuals captured state qualifying positions for the Feb. 21-21 gymnastics tournament at the Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall after Feb. 15th competition of the Class 3A/2A WCD III district meet at Mount Rainier High School.

Leading the Highline School District state qualifiers was Danielle Carnahan of Kennedy Catholic who earned an individual state qualifying position No. 1 and district position of a seventh place tie at 7.55 on the balance beam plus a state qualifying position of No. 2 and district placing of seventh at 9.15 on the floor exercise.

"The floor was my best and I had a better bar routine," said Lancer Carnahan. "There's still a little room for me to add elements to my routines before state. I'm excited for the floor, especially, at state. My tumbling was strong and I'm looking to put in add ons for more points at state."

Besides praising Carnahan, Kennedy Catholic head coach Kim Katzenberger also praised Lancer non qualifiers on the floor exercise.

"Katie Satterberg, Emily Hargett, Allison Hargett and Delaney Ochs worked hard to get here and performed clean routines."

From the Highline Pirates, junior Nieves Alvarez emerged to earn the state qualifying tie for eighth in the vault after state team members were filtered out.

"My whole team worked hard," she said. "on the vault, I'm going to add a full hand spring. I just missed on the floor, but I'm still happy."
First-year Pirate head coach Kimmie Marton was pleased with her team's performance.

"I brought five girls here and they all worked hard," she said. "They adjusted to my style and learned it pays to work hard."

Individual event winners featured Olivia Bannerot taking gold on the vault (9.525), the balance beam (9.175) and the floor exercise (9.475). Hornet Victoria Hernandez teammate captured first on the bars (9.0) en route to the all-around championship at 36.725, just ahead of Bannerot's 36.175. Joined by third place all-arounder Emily Berte, the aforementioned duo helped Enumclaw take the No. team seed to state at 172.375. Anna Paradee scored a fifth-place 34.275 to lead Decatur (Federal Way) into state with a second place team score of 160.05. North Kitsap scored 153.425 for the third and final team qualifier.