BALANCING ACT. Ballard Beaver Johanna Juarez has stepped up the level of her gymnastics enough to get to state, placing second in the beam. She will be counted on to lead the team next year with teammate Jayna Lehman lost to graduation. Dean Wong photo.
Juarez barely misses first place
By Dean Wong
Ballard gymnast Johanna Juarez earned second place in the beam last weekend against the best talent Washington State had to offer at the 4A Gymnastics Championships at the Tacoma Dome.
Juarez was joined at state by teammate Jayna Lehman who made it in the vault.
Juarez's score of 9.55 was just one-tenth of a point short of Bothell's star gymnast Carrie Dragland who was awarded a 9.55 score to take first.
In the floor exercise, Juarez continued to shine finishing in a four way-tie with a 9.6 score.
Although Ballard fielded one of its most talented teams in years, the two girls made it through a tough KingCo schedule to qualify for state.
Juarez performed well enough on the beam and floor exercises to make the meet against the best high school gymnasts in Washington and she qualified for the finals by placing fourth in the beam at 9.55 and in the floor with a five-way tie at 9.675.
Her score in the floor, was identical to gymnasts from Puyallup, Tahoma, Kentlake and Bothell.
Lehman, who did not advance, wraps up a four year career as Ballard's top gymnast. She found the time to translate some of her abilities to the cheerleading squad.
During the District 1-2 4A Championships on Feb. 9 and 10, Ballard finished in fourth place as a team with 165.625 points. Woodinville (179.375) was first, Bothell (179.225) came in second and Inglemoor placed third (171.675). Woodinville advanced to state as a team.
Juarez was second in the beam with a 9.675 score and fourth in floor with a 9.9 score.
