Long trips paid big dividends for two West Seattle-area athletes this past weekend.

Mike Lakisa of Chief Sealth journeyed to Marysville-Pilchuck for regional wrestling action and came away with a berth into this coming Friday and Saturday's state Class 3A meet at the Tacoma Dome.

Della Norton of West Seattle High School, meanwhile, traveled to Sammamish High School for Sea-King District gymnastics action and qualified for state at the adjacent Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall.

Lakisa qualified for state out of the 195-pound weight class and opens with a 12:50 p.m. match Friday.
Norton enjoyed a big day in the gymnastics competition, taking fifth place in the all-around with a total score of 34.4 points.

Norton took second in the uneven parallel bars competition with an 8.125 score and she placed fifth in the balance beam with an 8.6.

The 3A, 2A and 1A classifications will be combined for state gymnastics.

The individual march in is scheduled for 1:15 p.m., with the team, all-around and academic awards presented at 9:45 p.m.

Action in individual events starts with the march in and introductions at 11 a.m. Saturday with the competition getting underway at 11:20 a.m.

The 1A/2A/3A and separate 4A individual awards will be presented at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Mat Classic XXV action for wrestling has the first session from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, with the second session running from 4:00-9:30 p.m.

The tournament runs through Saturday, with the third session from 10 a.m. until 2:15 p.m. and the finals starting at 5:15 p.m.

Team awards will be presented at 9:30 p.m.

In the team competition at regionals, Chief Sealth placed 12th with 30 points and West Seattle was 15th with 14.