PASCO — Klahhane Gymnastics competitors came back from the Washington Xcel State Championships in Pasco this weekend with one individual State Champion and five team members advancing to the Region 2 Championships on April 21-23 in Everett.
More than 1,600 girls from 51 clubs competed in the three-day event at the HAPO Sports Complex from March 31 to Sunday.
In the Bronze competition on Saturday, Carley Mae Riggs held off a strong field in the Child B age group, scoring 38.30 all-around for the gold medal. Riggs was first on the vault (9.775), bars (9.725), beam (9.725) and fourth in the floor exercise.
The Bronze team continued with strong performances throughout the rest of the meet with all the girls finishing in the top 10 in their age groups and taking eighth out of the 51 teams participating, outscoring several teams twice Klahhane’s size.
Taking a key role toward the team finish and receiving fourth-place medals in the all-around were Raeleigh Thomason (37.05) in Junior E and Lainey DePiro (37.70) in the Senior D age group. Taking seventh-place medals in the all-around were Charlotte Nevill (36.825), Morgan Smith (36.55) and Makinlee Thomason (36.40). Paytynn Lindley competed in a strong Youth E age group and scored 36.35 for ninth.
On the opening day of competition, the Klahhane Platinum team of Kira Hartman, Lucy Spelker, Mariah Traband and Scarlett Sullivan all advanced to the Region 2 championships. To qualify for the six-state event, gymnasts needed to attain a minimum score of 35.0 at their respective state meets. A total of 320 girls will advance to the meet.
Spelker picked up a fifth-place medal in the floor exercise (9.425) in the Jr. D age group. Traband grabbed second on the beam (9.175) in the Child A Division; Sullivan was seventh in the floor exercise (9.425) in the Child D Division. Hartman scored a 9.025 in the floor exercise in the Child C division.
On Saturday, both Gold and Bronze teams competed. In the Gold competition, Elyse Brown finished third in the all-around (37.325) and qualified through a quota system to regionals. Brown also picked up two fourth-place medals on the balance beam (9.40) and floor exercise (9.525).
Harper Hilliker with the Gold team had two fifth-place medals on the beam (9.25) and floor (9.40) in the Child D age group. Gracelyn Goss also performed well on beam (9.05) and floor (9.175) in the Child E age group. Raynee Ciarlo scored 9.20 on the floor exercise and Daylen Williams performed well on the beam (9.075).
“Overall, the team represented their club and communities with excellent performance and sportsmanship, receiving many compliments on their performances from other coaches and meet staff,” said coach Jan Urfer.
The Klahhane Platinum team that competed at the state meet. From left, Kira Hartman, Mariah Traband, Lucy Spelker and Scarlett Sullivan. (Courtesy photo)
The Klahhane Gold team that competed at the state meet. From left, rear, Raynee Ciarlo and Elyse Brown. From left, front, Harper Hilliker, Gracelyn Goss and Daylen Williams. (Courtesy photo)
