BY GERARDO BOLONG
Contributing Writer

It was an excellent night for teams to display their assorted spinning and whirling talents.
Highline High School led Highline School District teams with a fourth place finish in the 2015 Seamount League sub-district meet held at Mt. Rainier High School on Fri., Feb. 6, at Mt. Rainier High School in Des Moines.

The Pirates scored 129.8 points to trail bi-district qualifying Hazen (138.175) and Renton (138.05) as well as Lindbergh (131.55). All Hazen and Renton team members will compete at the bi-district meet at Mt. Rainier on Sat., Feb. 14. Top three all-around performers and top seven individual event participants not on the bi-district qualifying teams will also be competing.

"It was one of the best meets," Pirate head coach Kevin Tessandore said. "It was anyone's ball game, right to the end. It was really great with no cut throat atmosphere. I couldn't be more proud. We overcame injuries to come together as a group."

Nieves Alvarez was in a tie for fifth with Evergreen's Alexis Sata on the all-around events at 27.75, but received the special qualifying AA second spot by competition rules.

For Alvarez, her top event was a on the vault where she scored a 7.7, but consistency was what got her into the all-around category as a performer.

"It was a good meet," Alvarez said. "I did everything I wanted. It'll be good to get things ready for (bi)district."
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In individual events, Highline had a steady stream of bi-district qualifiers. Katie Gatto earned special qualifying entries on her eighth place 8.0 vault and on a 7.0 beam score. Also joining bi-district as a special qualifier on two events was Sarah Tief, who scored 5.25 on bars and 7.05 on the floor exercise. On the vault, Tanjinique Ruffin's outstanding 8.25 second place vault score earned her an invitation while Lidya Mebrahtom scored a 10th place 7.75 to secure her spot. Rounding out HHS special qualifiers was Molly Randall at a 5.2 on bars.

In a very noteworthy individual performance, sophomore Emily Hargett of fifth place Kennedy Catholic (127.8) returned to competition after weeks of being sidelined due to an injury and sprung to a second place 7.85 on the vault to gain entrance to the bi-district meet. Hargett also claimed a fourth place special qualifier spot on the vault at 7.7.

"I felt great," Hargett said. "I was so excited to be able to compete and have more practice for next week."
A key part of her floor routine was added early in the week.

"On Tuesday, she added a double salto (somersault) on her tumbling pass," said KC head coach Kim Katzenberger. "She did it well."

A quartet of other Kennedy athletes found berths to bi-district.

On the bars, Alyssa Hoffman earned the right to move on with fifth places on the bars (5.95) and the floor (7.35) while also balancing to eighth place on the beam (7.05). Allison Hargett earned special qualifying berths on the beam (7.0) and the floor (7.0). Lancer Megan Brennan will compete at bi-district as a special qualifier on the bars (5.0) as Jessi Blake joins qualifiers on the beam (6.7).

"I'm excited about fifth place with all the injuries we've had," added Katzenberger.

Sixth place Evergreen (White Center) at 104.625 enjoyed some outstanding performances in this meet. Hao Trieu, who gained bi-district by way of her special qualifier status on bars (5.3), joined Cat Reid (7.6 on vault) as Wolverine representatives at bi-district.

"All the girls did a great job," said Evergreen head coach Ashley Wyman.

Head coach Gordan Kadric's Tyee Totems finished in eighth place at 88.65 led by bi-district qualifier junior Alex Sata. In her third place qualifying effort, Sata's top event was a 7.5 on the balance beam.

"I feel good and I'm ready to go on to next week," she happily exuded.

Kadric also felt good about his team's handiwork.

"They did well," he said.