When a trio of Federal Way School District high school gymnastics teams gathered together for leaps and spins on Wednesday at the Gator Dome, it turned into tight competition for all.

Despite three all around performers resting due to an assortment of aches and pains, Todd Beamer edged out Federal Way 145.55-145.20 while Decatur was just behind this pair at 144.7.

Beamer had tallied 166 points the previous week with all performers healthy.

"It's early in the season," said Titan head coach Gina Foster. "We're just trying to stay healthy. Some of our performers just needed to rest this week. We can do better, but it was good."

Victorious Todd Beamer was paced by the one-two combination of Samantha West and Cassie Peterson. West winged her way to first place on the uneven parallel bars with a score of 8.65 while adding an 8.6 second place on the floor exercise. Coupled with an 8.5 third place on the vault and a 7.9 sixth place on the balance beam, the Titan's achievements led to a first place all around total of 33.65.

Peterson pushed herself to a 33.6 second place total on the strength of first place on the floor (9.2) and No. 1 score of 8.9 on the vault.

Peterson also swung to an 8.4 second place on the bars.

Blayne Zimmerman took sixth for Beamer with an all around accumulation of 28.85. Zimmerman's best individual event was a 6.2 seventh tie on the bars while taking eighth place honors on each of the other events.

This meet gave Titan Emma Cortes the opportunity to try the all arounds for the first time. Cortes managed to score 25.6 for ninth place.

"I was a little nervous, but it was a fun experience," said Cortes.

Federal Way head coach Jamie Tough was pleased with the Eagle effort.

"We're already having a good year," she stated. "Even though we're beat up (with injuries) we're doing well with icing between events. This is the best start since I've been here."

In the all arounds, the Eagles' Valerie Pham flew to a 31.8 third place. Second place on the vault at 8.6 and third place on the bars at 7.5 led her exploits. Pham added sixth on the floor exercise (7.9) and seventh on the beam (7.8) to her total.

Earning 30.1 points for her fifth place all around, Taryn Paschke balanced to second place on the beam (8.2) as she grabbed fifth on the bars (6.9) while also notching an 8.0 seventh position on the vault.

"This was a good meet," she declared. "Since our first meet, we've working hard on what's already pretty good."

Federal Way had some other good finishes on individual events. Lydia Berger tied for fourth with a score of 8.0 on the floor and added a fifth place 8.2 on the vault. Courtney Stute garnered fourth place tie at 7.95 on the beam and Tiffany McNeary notched a 6.5 sixth on the bars. Kayla Ramey earned 6.15 points to secure eighth place on the bars.

It was a truly pleasing experience for the Decatur Gators.

"I'm happy with our girls," said Gator head coach Patty Braun. "For our second meet, we scored higher than in previous years. There's strength in numbers."

The reference to numbers involves the higher turn out of athletes this year. Braun has less problems assembling a line up to cover all arounds and individual events.

Holly Phan danced to a third place 8.1 on the floor and scored an 8.15 total on the balance beam to key her 31.45 fourth place all around.

She also annexed fourth places on the bars (6.95) and vault (8.25) to augment her totals.

Victoria Braun stood up well to score 28.7 in a seventh place all around effort. Her fourth place tie of 8.0 on the floor and sixth place 8.1 on the vault highlighted her efforts.

"It's definitely better here at our home place competing," she related. "I was really nervous last week, but it's better here."

Victoria Zellerhoff scored 27.4 Gator points to reach eighth place in all around competition. Zellheroff's best event was a 7.3 tie for seventh on the floor exercise with teammate Carly Carson. Carson also swung to a 7.9 fourth place tie on the beam.