TACOMA - Mark down another monumental milestone for Mount Rainier.
Mixing power packed and finely finessed skills, the Mount Rainier gymnastics team set its third school record of the season on the way to the 2012 Class 4A team state gymnastics third place in the program's second season at this classification.
It was close encounters of the most suspenseful kind in which the Rams' depth of talent roster posted 177.675 points to trail only champion Mead (179.25) and runner up Woodinville (178.375) in the Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall Friday, Feb. 17.
"We're really excited," said Mount Rainier head coach Ali Kestle. "This was our highest for the year and another school record. We're a little disappointed, but we'll be back. It's only our second year at 4A and were only two points away from first place."
Improving nearly four points from their last school record as the 2012 West Central District III champions, the surging Rams capitalized on great improvement on the uneven parallel bars.
Former level 10 gymnast and current Mount Rainier senior Baylee Hamilton captured the all-around title with a sparkling total of 38.0. Among her individual event postings were state qualifying performances on three events. Hamilton scored a 9.8 first on bars, a 9.35 tie for second on the balance beam and a 9.525 tie for fifth on the floor exercise.
"It was exciting and I had a great time," Hamilton said. "Individually, it's fun and great and awesome. As a team, of course, I wanted to get first, but I still think we did awesome and we all had fun and we all improved, and that's the most important thing. You can't be disappointed with that."
Teammate Cheyenne Gavino, another previous level 10 gymnast, earned seventh in the all-arounds (37.175) while gaining the finals on a second place 9.65 bars achievement.
Thomas Jefferson senior Madi Kellar's first place marks of 9.675 on the beam and floor exercise (9.6 tie) joined with a third place 9.55 on the bars to catapult the Lady Raider to a 37.825 second place in the AA.
"I had a good meet," said Kellar. "My body isn't holding up very well. I hurt everywhere."
Monica Church danced to a state finals spot on the floor with a first place tie of 9.6.
Sam West of Beamer closed out her high school team competition with an accumulated fourth place all-around total of 37.35 tieing her with Mini Tanaka of Inglemoor.
This Titan athlete qualified for final competition with a 9.475 fifth-place tie on vault and a 9.35 eighth on bars.
Leah Freeborn continued to the finals on the vault with a qualifying 9.45 seventh place on Friday.
