Hornet Gymnasts Set Sights on State Championship

Olivia Bannerot won the all-around title while Kelsey Messer and Molly Mattheis took third and sixth respectively in the all-around competition to lead the Enumclaw High School gymnastics team to the West Central District Gymnastics Championship on Friday night at Auburn Mountainview High School.

"Our girls did really good today," Enumclaw coach Ben Skipworth said. "We got our score up four points on bars and that really helped us tonight. We added a girl on vault, (Kelsey) Messer -- on the beam we started bad but really bounced back, and then we rocked on floor exercise."

With a score of 170.425, Enumclaw beat defending state champion Auburn Mountainview (163.475) by nearly seven points. Kennedy clinched the final state berth at 140.050 edging out Timberline 139.325. Highline took fifth at 138.425, and Capital trailed with 128.175.

In the all-around, Bannerot's 36.775 helped her secure first; Messer scored 34.925, and Mattheis came in with 34.100.

"It's an awesome feeling to reach state," Messer said. 

Bannerot said, "We have been wanting to beat (Auburn) Mountainview all season."

Sarah Lurry said, "To get a win against them now definitely gives us confidence."

One of the main goals that Skipworth had set for his team was to break the 170 point barrier this week and the team did so last night. "It's awesome that we broke 170," he said. "The improvement on bars really helped us get there." 

The Hornets took victories in all four team events including overcoming the balance beam thanks to Messer's 9.5 and Bannerot's 9.050.

"Before the beam Olivia and I told each other that we have to stay on the beam," Messer said. "Beam is just such a hard event that it's all you think about."

Enumclaw put its stamp on the meet in the floor exercise. Lurry and Bannerot led the way with scores of 9.475. 

"I thought the routine went really good," Lurry said. "I've been really working hard on it in practice."

Everyone's attention is now on the state meet coming up this Friday and Saturday at the Tacoma Dome. The Hornets, while excited about this district championship title, are hungry for more next weekend.

"Next week is the big one for us," Bannerot said. "We are ready for it."

Lurry said, "We can't get cocky. We know we have to come in giving our best next week especially for myself and (Kelsey) Messer since it's our last meet as seniors."

Messer said, "We just have to keep working hard in practice this week, and just keep working to hit our routines. We want to leave everything on the floor next week."

Enumclaw moves on to the State 1A/2A/3A Championships next Friday and Saturday at the Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall. The team competition will be Friday evening starting approximately at 6:20 p.m. The indiviudal competition will be Saturday at  approximately 11 a.m.

Team Results

1. Enumclaw 170.425, 2.Auburn Mountainview 163.475, 3. Kennedy Catholic 140.050, 4. Timberline 139.325, 5.Highline 138.425, 6. Capital 128.175

All-Around

1. Bannerot, Enumclaw 36.775; 2. Alvarez, Highline, 36.100; 3. Messer, Enumclaw, 34.925; 4.Hostetter, Aub. Mountainview, 34.775; 5. Tabbutt, Capital, 34.350; 6. Mattheis, Enumclaw, 34.100;  7. Paradee, Decatur, 33.450;8. Dittmar, Kennedy Catholic, 33.375; 9. Lurry, Enumclaw, 33.025 

Vault--1. Tabbutt, Capital, 9.6; 2.Alvarez, Highline, 9.55; 3.Bannerot, Enumclaw, 9.5; 4. Paradee, Decatur 9.45; 5. Mattheis, Enumclaw, 9.325; 6. Lurry, Enumclaw, 9.25

Beam-- 1.Messer, Enumclaw 9.5; 2. Bannerot, Enumclaw, 9.05; 3. Alvarez, Highline, 8.85; 4. Quam, Decatur, 8.6; 5.Hunt, Aub. Mountainview, 8.45

Bars-- 1. Bannerot, Enumclaw, 8.75; 2. Alvarez, Highline, 8.3; 3.Hostetter, Aub. Mountainview, 8.25; 4. Mattheis, Enumclaw, 8.150; 5. Tabbutt, Capital, 8.025

Floor-- 1. Bannerot, Enumclaw, 9.475; 2.Lurry, Enumclaw, 9.475; 3. Alvarez, 9.4; 4. Braun, Decatur, 9.225; 5. Dittmar, Kennedy Catholic, 9.15