Area Sports by Michael Dashiell

Bolstered by strong showings from Sequim gymnasts, Klahhane Gymnastics teams opened the winter compulsory season with solid finishes at the Bainbridge Back-to-Back meet Jan. 12 at Woodward Middle School, competing with eight teams from Washington, Idaho and Alaska.

In Level 6 competition, Sequim’s Emily Giammalva and Ashley Westrem, along with teammate Madylan Coventon, brought home the second-place team trophy with a team score of 98.15. Gymnastics Unlimited of Federal Way took first.

Individually, Giammalva took first in the all-around in the 13-and-older age group, scoring 33.275 points. She placed second on all four individual events with scores of 8.75 on vault, 7.875 on uneven bars, 8.65 on balance beam and 8.025 on the floor exercise.

Westrem took third all-around in the 11-12 age group (32.05 points), placing third on vault (9.0) and uneven bars (7.70), fourth on balance beam (7.75) and fifth on the floor exercise (7.60).

Coventon placed first in the 11-12 age group with 32.825 total points, earning first on uneven bars (8.05) and balance beam (8.50), second on the floor exercise (7.675), and sixth on vault (8.60).

The Klahhane Level 4 team took first in the team competition with a team score of 103.90, topping Meridian Gymnastics from Idaho (101.85 points) and host club Bainbridge Island Gymnastics (99.40).

Sequim’s Brooke Parsinen was fourth individually among 12-year-olds and older with 32.725 points while Sequim’s Vanessa Martinez was fifth in the same division with 32.55 points.

Clarissa Preston of Sequim was third among 9-year-olds with 31.95 points.

Other Klahhane Level 4 gymnasts included 8-year-olds Maya Wharton (second place, 34.65) and Adare McMinn (31.10, sixth); 9-year-olds Ashlynn Uvila (32.55, first place) and Lillian Oden (30.80, seventh); 10-year-old Reilly Reed (33.775, first place); and 11-year-olds Ashlynn Amick (32.55, first place), Emily VanDyken (31.30, second) and Victoria Scurich (28.45, fourth).

In Level 5 competition, Klahhane’s Katyn Flores and Lexi Hefton each took first place in their age groups with scores of 29.75 and 31.60 points, respectively.



Klahhane team competes at ‘Paws & Claws’ event

The Klahhane Gymnastics Level 3-6 teams participated in the Paws & Claws Invitational hosted by Northwest Aerials Gymnastics in Kirkland Jan. 26-27, taking on 11 other Western Washington teams.

In Level 4 competition, the team placed second with a score of 103.35. Wharton and Martinez led the team taking first all-around in the 8-year-olds and 12-year-old-and-older competition, with scores of 34.80 for Wharton and 33.50 for Martinez. Preston placed third in the 9-year-olds competition scoring 33.05 and Reed took fourth for 10-year-olds, scoring 33.55 points. Also representing the Klahhane club were Oden, Scurich, VanDyken, Nikki Price, Saige Hefton and Cami Ortloff.

The Level 6 team placed fourth in the team competition. Giammalva was fourth all-around in the 12-and-over age group, scoring 33.40. Her high event was an 8.95 on vault for fourth place.

Coventon and Westrem placed sixth in their age groups with scores of 32.35 and 31.30, respectively. Coventon had an 8.75 on beam for fourth place and Westrem took fourth on vault with 8.60.

The Level 5 team also picked up a fourth-place team trophy. Team members are Amick, Flores, Parsinen and Lexi Hefton.

The Level 3 competition was for score and achievement ribbons only, with no team or individual awards. Klahhane team members participating were Elizabeth DeFrang (36.20 points), Paige Peyton (35.80), Darian Kyniston (35.70), Ariana Blair (35.05), Olivia Ready (35.00), Clohey Passaro (34.70) and Lael Butler (34.30).