GYMNASTICS: Kentlake remains perfect 10, snags All-City crown

February 6, 2009 8:26 pm

With the regular season fading in the rearview mirror, the Kentlake gymnastics team will head into the South Puget Sound League subdistrict meet tomorrow morning hot on the heels of an overwhelming win at the Kent All-City meet and a perfect 19-0 record.

The undefeated season is the first in the program’s history.

The Falcons capped their regular-season run with a 169.20 team score at Kentridge High last Thursday, cruising past Kentwood (149.20), Kent-Meridian (147.00) and Kentridge (142.70).

It’s Kentlake’s third straight All-City title.

Kentlake senior Kayla Shira was dominant in the individual events, winning the all-around competition with a 37.62 score. Shira captured first place on the bars with a 9.2, first on the beam with a 9.7 and first in the floor exercise with a 9.45. She was second in the vault with a 9.30, getting edged by Kent-Meridian’s Nora Keith, who posted a 9.45.

“It feels pretty good,” Kentlake’s Brianne Gould said after the meet. “We’re pretty excited. We were expecting to be pretty good, but we just came out real strong.”

Kentwood’s Jamie Larsen took home second in the all-around with a 35.55 score. Larsen was second on the bars (8.80), the beam (9.2) and the floor (9.25).

Keith captured third all-around with a 35.40. In addition to her win in the vault, the event she finished seventh in state at last season, she was third in the floor exercise with a 9.00.

Kentlake freshman Katie Steckler showed that the Falcons should be stocked with talent for years to come with her third place finish on the beam with a 9.05.

Kentwood’s Alex Perez was third in the vault with a 8.5.

Now it’s on to the subdistrict meet this Saturday at Kentwood High School.

“We’re just hoping to come with our best and hopefully have a pretty strong finish there also,” Gould said of the sub-district meet.

Kentlake 169.20, Kentwood 149.20, Kent Meridian 147.00 and Kentridge 142.70

All-around — 1, Kayla Shira, KL, 37.65; 2, Jamie Larsen, KW, 35.55; 3, Nora Keith, KM,35.40. Bars — 1, Shira, KL, 9.2; 2, Larsen, KW, 8.80; 3, Keith, KM,8.5. Beam — 1, Shira, KL, 9.7; 2, Larsen, KW, 9.2; 3, Katie Steckler, KL,9.05. Floor — 1, Shira, KL, 9.45; 2, Larsen, KW, 9.25; 3. Keith, KM, 9.00; Vault — 1, Keith, KM, 9.45 2, Shira, KL, 9.30; 3. Alex Perez, KW, 8.5