By Gerardo Bolong
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

TACOMA - Senior Mt. Rainier gymnast Ava Welch closed out her high school career at the 2015 WIAA 4A state gymnastics championships in intense individual event competition on Sat., Feb. 21.

Welch earned a spot on the podium by earning a bronze medal on the vault in a powerful and artful 9.325 spring at the Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall to trail only gold medalist Jenna Schlosser of Mead (9.725) and Marisa Savage of Woodinville (9.675). The excellent Ram performer also closed out with a ninth place 8.525 bars performance in an event won by Jenna Schlosser of Mead (9.525).

Tia Thomas of Federal Way celebrated her impressive floor exercise with a fist pump and dance with the knowledge that she had just concluded the performance of her life. It turned into a gold medal winning 9.7 in her third year of the state finals.

Thomas credited hard work and talked about her performance score being, "in God's hands and the judges' hands.".

Freshman Anna Olsen of Skyline took the top medal on the balance beam at 9.325.