Local gymnasts do well at state competition
This item is available in full to subscribers.
To continue reading, you will need to either log in to your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account and connect your subscription to it by clicking here.
If you are a digital subscriber with an active, online-only subscription then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you've not yet logged in to your account on this new site.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue |
GILLETTE — High Uinta Gymnastics (HUG) earned 1st place in the silver division at the Wyoming State USA Xcel Gymnastics Championships held Saturday, March 17, in Gillette. They also took 3rd place as a team in the bronze division, and 5th place team in the gold division.
The gymnasts brought home a total of 13 gold, 10 silver and 8 bronze medals. Eighteen of HUG’s gymnasts made the trek to Gillette and made Evanston and Bridger Valley proud of the young tumblers, vaulters, dancers and fearless all-around athletes. Many of these competitors had never been to state championships before, so this was a new experience for them.
Samantha Simmonds, daughter of Scott and Candace, was HUG’s shining star in the bronze division, bringing home five medals and winning 1st place all-around with a score of 36.925. Kylee Kent, daughter of Quinton and Courtney, brought back the highest all-around score of 37.300 and earned four medals in the silver division.
Natalia Quintero, daughter of Lilia and Daniel, also brought back four medals and had an impressive all-around score of 36.450 in the silver division. Samantha, Kylee and Natalia were all-state all-around champions.
In the gold division, Jaden Grasse, daughter of John and Brenda, dazzled everyone with her gold medal on the beam. Charlee Fanos, Madison Graham and Sofia Casillas all took 2nd place in the all-around. Additional athletes took other individual events, medaling in some and placing in others.
The gold-division athletes all qualified to represent the state of Wyoming at Region 3 Xcel Championships, to be held in May at Galveston, Texas. Ashley Martin and Victoria Aimone will represent Wyoming at this prestigous meet.
The best question asked at state came from our youngest competitor Madilyn Roetker: “Why is state so far away? It takes forever to get here!” Teammates and coaches just giggled and told her she was right.
The HUG team is coached by Barb Diehl, Ashley Graham and Hayley Perkins.
Gillette Elites was the host club for the state championship meet held in the nearly new Campbell County Rec Center. Seventeen teams and more than 400 athletes from around the state competed for the coveted state awards.
