The Sumner Spartans gymnastics crew traveled to Emerald Ridge High for a three-team meet Dec. 10, placing behind Todd Beamer High and the host Jaguars.
Coach Kimmie Marton was excited about the finish, however, because she was able to field nearly a full squad. During the season opener a week earlier, she had a skeleton crew due to a handful of Spartans not yet eligible.
At Emerald Ridge, Sumner High scored 137 team points, trailing Beamer’s 160.45 and Emerald Ridge, 158.7.
Freshman Rachel Heckroth again led the way for the Spartans, placing second in the all-around competition with a 34.25 total. She won the vault with a score of 8.5 and placed third in the other three events, scoring 8.0 in the uneven bars, 8.4 in the floor exercise and 9.35 on the balance beam.
The only other Spartan with a Top 10 placing was Lisbet Fernandez, who scored an 8.05 to finish fifth in the floor exercise. She added a 7.8 on the balance beam, 7.7 in the vault and 4.0 in the bars to place 14th in the all-around.
Also competing in the all-around for the Spartans were Stephanie Josten, Hayley Markstrom, Rachel O’Donnell and Kayla O’Daniel. Josten’s scores were 7.6 in the vault, 3.0 bars, 6.45 beam and 6.6 floor. Markstrom had a 7.4 in the vault, 4.5 bars, 4.9 beam and 6.35 floor. O’Donnell had a 6.25 in the vault, 4.8 bars, 6.0 beam and 5.7 floor. O’Daniel had a 5.95 in the vault, 2.7 bars, 4.2 beam and 5.1 floor.
Also competing for the Spartans were Michael Teista and Brian Wright. Boys are allowed to participate in gymnastics, but their scores do not count toward the team total.
Teista had a 6.4 in the floor exercise, 5.3 on the bars and a 7.4 on the vault. Wright scored 5.9 in the floor exercise, 5.5 on the bars and 6.6 in the vault.
The Sumner High gymnasts are on the road again tonight, Wednesday, traveling to Todd Beamer High in Federal Way. The Spartans will then take a break until Jan. 7 when they head to Rogers High. The team’s first home meet comes Jan. 14 against Thomas Jefferson, Kentridge and Decatur. All meets begin at 7 p.m.
Reach Kevin Hanson at khanson@courierherald.com or 360-802-8205.
