BY GERARDO BOLONG
Contributing Writer

Out of the cauldron of competition at the 2015 West Central III/Southwest Washington IV 3A/2A bi-district state qualifying gymnastics meet held at Mount Rainier High School on Valentine's Day, Feb. 14 three Highline High School students emerged as special qualifiers on individual events.

Once top four state qualifying team members are factored out, 17 additional athletes, including ties, are selected to go on to state in each individual event.

All three area representatives are Highline High School Pirates.

Leading off is Katie Gatto who was a sixth place qualifier on the balance beam and 11th place state qualification on the vault.

"I was nervous and not ready," she said. "But I worked hard during the week."

Tanjinique Ruffin and Lidya Mebrahtom will join Gatto as sq's on the beam.

Ruffin posted a 12th place sq score of 8.05.

"Coach Kevin (Tessandore)kept telling me I could do it," said Ruffin. "But my main support is always Jesus."
Lidya Mebrahtom took the 17th sq with a 7.95 rating.

"I was doing my routines on the vault during practice and coach kept encouraging me," she said.

Enumclaw's Hornets posted the top score of the four qualifying teams at 159.45 while the Chieftains of Columbia River flowed to a second place 155.575. Auburn Riverside (151.25) and Port Angeles (148.2) rounded out the final four. Capital of West Olympia just missed with a 147.8 total.

For Auburn Mountainview, Kayla Porter dominated the all-around with a 38.0 total, including first places on vault (9.65), bars (9.475) and floor (9.625). Porter was a close second (9.25) to Maddison Ward of Enumclaw's winning 9.275.

State competition runs from Feb. 20-21 at the Tacoma Dome Exhibition Center. Team and all-around championships will be determined on the first day. Those qualifying in the top 10 of individual events on day one will return the next morning for medal competition. Qualifying results will not be part of the final competition.