Last Saturday's (February 6) SPSL/Narrows Class 4A sub-district gymnastics meet held at Kentwood High School provided the proving grounds for high school athletes to tumble, leap, dance and swing their way into berths at the February 13th WCD III/Southwest District IV bi-district tournament to be held at Auburn Mountainview High School.

Six talented teams, nine individual placings (including ties) per event not on district qualifying teams and three all-around performers on non-qualifying squads earned district spots from this sub-district meet.

Pacing Federal Way School District high school contingents was Todd Beamer whose second place 169.975 total fell just short of district champion Puyallup (170.25) but just ahead of third place Thomas Jefferson (169.275). Auburn Riverside (167.25), Emerald Ridge (164.025) and Olympia (159.625) rounded out the WCD/SW district qualifying squads.

"We had a couple of falls, but overall, we had a good meet," Beamer head coach Gina Foster said. "Everyone did fairly well. Chelsi Freeborn and Jessica Freeborn are back in all-arounds after being injuerd and we have a healthy squad. Some were a little nervous, but we see what we need to work on for district."

Sam West worked her way to a first place 9.4 tie with Chelsey Haskey of Puyallup on the vault to lead the Titans. An 8.625 fourth place on the uneven bars plus a 9.25 seventh place on the balance beam completed her top ten individual event performances that brought her to a 35.925 fifth place in all-around competition.

Teammate consistent Cassie Peterson notched a sixth place 35.925 all-around total. Peterson performed to a seventh place 9.225 on the floor, eighth places on the vault (9.050) and beam (9.225) and a ninth place 8.225 on bars, but felt she could do better.

"For me, it was an average meet," she stated. "The team did well."

Kellar scored 36.55 in a third place all-around effort to trail only district champion Rebecca Turnbow (37.025) and runner up Haskey of Puyallup (36.775). The Raider gymnast stuck the balance beam for a first place 9.7 while also adding the top spot on the floor exercise at 9.425. Third place on the bars (8.825) went to Kellar, as well.

"I've just been training hard and did things like I did in practice," she said. "My aerial move on the beam set up the rest to happen including my dismount. We pulled through as a team on nearly everything we've been training for."

In other top 10 finishes, Shelby Church swung to eighth place on the bars (8.3) and tied for 10th on the floor en route to a ninth place tie of 35.225 on the all-arounds (9.15). Monica Church tallied a 9.1 tie for ninth on the balance beam.

Jefferson team members are Bri Adams, Makenzie Brough, Taylor Poitras, Brittany Brace, Nikki Fahim, Shelby Printz, Shelby Church, Monica Church, Madi Kellar, KayLynne Fuller, Megan McNew and Svetlana Shudrya.

Coaches are Hunter and long-time assistant Laura Rosa.

Federal Way finished in ninth place as a team with 149.9 points and sent individuals to district, including a gymnast who worked through pain to elevate herself to the next level.

"The team showed competitivenes," said Eagle head coach Jamie Tough. "They're gamers, especially Valarie Pham. I'm so proud of her on the floor. She tweaked her ankle and asked me if she could still make it (to district) on the floor if she adjusted her routine. This was her first time that she performed a full layout."

Pham decided to go for it and danced to district as an additional qualifier on the floor exercise.

"I talked it out during the meet and decided to keep the full floor routine," said the tough Eagle.

Before the floor routine, Pham had also become an additional district qualifier on the vault and the bars. Other individual qualifiers Lydia Galvan-Berger on the vault and Taryn Paschke on the beam.

Decatur lost top all-arounder Holly Phan on an ankle injury in practice the day before the meet, but still performed well in a 14th place 139.125.

"We did well, especially without Holly," stated Gator head coach Patty Braun. "Victoria (Braun) had a good 8.925 on the floor and did a nice vault."

Coach Braun's daughter, Victoria, qualified for district on the floor and vault. Makayla Quam reached district as an additional qualifier on the balance beam.

"I'm really ecstatic to be going to district," exclaimed the Gator freshman.