Spartan tumblers take silver at State

The Bainbridge High School gymnastics team now has a trophy – a state trophy.

Years of excellence have never gotten them more than a district or regional award. Now they’re number two in the the state.

Last Friday, no one in the state would have beaten Issaquah – well, maybe the Washington Huskies. The Indians scored an unbelievable 179.5, with the Spartans next at 172.0, followed by Columbia River’s (Vancouver) 168.125 and Kennedy’s 166.4.

In Friday night’s action, sophomore Brooke Nall was awesome, finishing fourth in the all-around at 36.75. Junior Dana Cuykendall and senior Emily Roche, finished 16th and 20th respectively.

On Saturday, individual event medals were awarded at the meet in the Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall. Nall placed in the top 10 in three of the four events: fifth in the vault at 9.3, sixth on beam at 9.35, and eighth on the bars at 9.1.

Cuykendall, always a competitor, was fifth on her specialty, the beam, at 9.375.

The success in their routines was all mirrored by their success in the classroom, which also received notice at the meet. The team had an average GPA of 3.895, which placed them as the State Academic Champions. Kirsten Hertz and Dana Cuykendall won All Academic Awards, placing them with six girls on the All Academic Team. Emily Roche and Alison Kramer received honorable mention and were named to the second Academic Team.

“We worked hard and have a lot of depth, and that really paid off at the state meet,” coach Cindy Guy said.

Abby Griebnow of Burien’s Kennedy High School, a junior, is now the reigning star of 3A gymnastics, winning the all-around and three of the four individual events.

But it’s hard to believe a bevy of Spartans won’t be challenging her in the future. Only Roche, Alison Kramer, and Kirsten Hertz graduate. Two-year state veterans Nall and Cuykendall return, as do sophomore phenoms Brittany Belt and Carrie Kirkpatrick and freshmen Lizzie Annis and Emily Basile.

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