The Ballard High School gymnastics team edged out Issaquah by 0.05 of a point for third-place in the Feb. 6 KingCo 4A Championships and a spot in the district meet.

Woodinville took first, as Ballard coach Stephanie Gundel predicted they would, with a score of 176.3. Inglemoor came in second with 165.925. Ballard rounded out the top three with 164.25, beating Issaquah's 164.2.

The Beavers' Taylor Stern took second all-around with a score of 36.6.

She placed first on the bars with 9.15 and second on the vault, also with 9.15.

Despite not placing any gymnasts in the top three spots in the beam, Ballard had its best performance of the season in that event.

"[The girls] just kept feeding off each other," coach Stephanie Gundel said. "You could see the confidence growing as each person went."

Gundel said the team had an uncharacteristically rough time on the vault, which made things close at the end. The 0.05-point difference between Ballard and Issaquah is equal to one pointed toe or arm out of place, she said.

Stern was the only Ballard gymnast to crack the top three in any event.

The Beavers are heading to the district meet as a team for the second time ever. The top two all-around individuals and the top five individuals on each event move on to the state meet.

Stern advanced to state meet last year. Gundel said she is looking good to do so again, but getting the whole team to districts sets up well to have as many Ballard players qualify as possible.

"Everyone is proud of the accomplishment," Gundel said. "But, there's more work to be done before next weekend, and we want to have a good showing there, too."