Two Federal Way School District gymnasts earned medals with solid performances in state finals gymnastics.

Madi Kellar earned a spot on the medalist podium in a truly competitive Class 4A State Gymnastics event finals held on Saturday, February 20, at theTacoma Dome Exhibition Hall.

Competitors qualified by virtue of their Friday night scores and returned for the finals on Saturday.

Previously, 10 competitors qualified from Friday and returned to compete from scratch while automatically qualifying for the medalist podium.

In a new format, the top eight from Friday in each event still started out even but performed for four medal winning perches on the podium.

For sophomore Madi Kellar of Thomas Jefferson, a stellar 9.55 dance routine on the floor exercise put her in fourth place behind the title-sharing trio of Hailey West (Woodinville), Mary McIntosh (Woodinville) and Britni Atwell (Heritage) who posted identical scores of 9.675.

Kellar just missed the podium on the bars, scoring 8.75 to finish fifth. Hailey Wells of Woodinville captured the gold on bars with a 9.55.

In the face of the intense competition, the resolute Raider just went about her normal routines.

I didn't prepare any differently for this," she said. "I just went to bed last night and warmed up today to be good to go."

Sam West of Beamer stood up on the podium after a balance beam performance of 9.275 claimed fourth place in the event won by Mary McIntosh of Woodinville (9.5). Chelsi Freeborn finished eighth on the floor at 9.3. Wells of Woodinville took the top spot at 9.675.

"There was a lot of pressure I had to deal with, but it's easier when I'm only doing one event," West declared. "I did better than yesterday because I added back-to-back hand springs and performed cleanly."

Britni Atwell of Heritage claimed the top spot on the vault with a 9.675.

Thomas Jefferson head coach Debbie Hunter was inducted into the Washington State Gymnastics Association Hall of Fame after one year of coaching at Mount Rainier and the last 30 years being a mentor at Jefferson.

Her motto has been an example for manypeople.

"Go big, or go home," she stated. "You've got to go for it."

Continuing her coaching has been helped by the athletes she coached as well as the coaches.

"Laura Rosa (her long time assistant coach) is a big reason I'm still here. You've got to have help carrying the load."