Klahhane gymnasts advance to regionals

By Sequim Gazette Staff • April 19, 2023 1:30 am
Photo courtesy of Klahhane Gymnastics / Klahhane Gymnastics’ Bronze Team includes (back row, from left) Lainey DePiro, Raeleigh Thomason, Harper Watterkotte and Morgan Smith, (middle row, from left) Paytynn Lindley and Carley Mae Riggs, and (front row, from left) Makinlee Thomason and Charlotte Nevill.
Photo courtesy of Klahhane Gymnastics / Klahhane Gymnastics’ Bronze Team includes (back row, from left) Lainey DePiro, Raeleigh Thomason, Harper Watterkotte and Morgan Smith, (middle row, from left) Paytynn Lindley and Carley Mae Riggs, and (front row, from left) Makinlee Thomason and Charlotte Nevill.

Klahhane Gymnastics gymnasts came back from the recent Washington Xcel State Championships with an individual state champion and five team members advancing to the Region 2 Championships, set for April 21-23 in Everett.

“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,” coach Jan Urfer said.

More than 1,600 girls from 51 clubs competed in the three-day event at the HAPO Sports Complex in Pasco, March 31 – April 2.

On the first day of competition, the Platinum Team of Kira Hartman, Lucy Spelker, Mariah Traband and Scarlett Sullivan each advanced to the Region 2 Championships in Everett in April. To qualify for the six-state regional, gymnasts needed to attain a minimum score of 35.00 at their respective state meets. Spelker, competing in the Junior D age group, earned a fifth place medal on FX (9.425). Traband in the Child A age group, took second on the beam (9.175). Sullivan in the Child D age group, placed seventh on the floor exercise, and Hartman scored a 9.025 on the floor in the Child C division.

On April 1, Klahhane’s Gold and Bronze teams competed simultaneously in separate areas of the venue. In the Gold competition, Elyse Brown placed third in the all-around scoring with 37.325 points, and qualified for regionals through a quota system. Brown also picked up two fourth place medals, on the balance beam (9.40 points) and floor exercise (9.525). In other Gold team results, Klahhane’s Harper Hilliker earned two fifth place medals, on beam (9.25) and floor (9.40) in the Child D age division. Gracelyn Goss, competing in the Child E division, earned strong scores on both (9.05) and floor (9.175); Raynee Ciarlo scored 9.20 on FX and Daylen Williams performed well on beam (9.075).

In the Bronze competition, Carley Mae Riggs held off a strong field in the Child B age group with 38.30 points in all-around scoring for a gold medal. Riggs placed first on vault (9.775), bars (9.725) and beam (9.725),and was fourth on floor (9.075).

Klahhane’s team continued with strong performances throughout the rest of the meet, with each of the girls finishing in the top 10 in their age groups and taking eighth place out of the participating 51 teams — out-scoring several teams twice their size. Earning fourth place finishes in all-around scoring were Raeleigh Thomason (37.05) in Junior E division and Lainey DePiro (37.70) in the Senior D age group. Earning seventh place medals in all-around scoring were Charlotte Nevill (36.825), Morgan Smith (36.55) and Makinlee Thomason (36.40). Paytynn Lindley, competing in a tough Youth E age group, scored 36.35 for ninth place.

Photo courtesy of Klahhane Gymnastics Klahhane Gymnastics’ Platinum Team includes, from left, Kira Hartman, Mariah Traband, Lucy Spelker and Scarlett Sullivan. The quartet advanced to the Region 2 Championships in Everett later this month.

Photo courtesy of Klahhane Gymnastics Klahhane Gymnastics’ Platinum Team includes, from left, Kira Hartman, Mariah Traband, Lucy Spelker and Scarlett Sullivan. The quartet advanced to the Region 2 Championships in Everett later this month.

Photo courtesy of Klahhane Gymnastics / Klahhane Gymnastics’ Gold Team includes (back row, from left) Gracelyn Goss and Daylen Williams, and (front row, from left) Raynee Ciarlo, Elyse Brown and Harper Hilliker.

Photo courtesy of Klahhane Gymnastics / Klahhane Gymnastics’ Gold Team includes (back row, from left) Gracelyn Goss and Daylen Williams, and (front row, from left) Raynee Ciarlo, Elyse Brown and Harper Hilliker.