Courtney Johnson

It is turning out to be a big year for girls gymnastics and heading into the final regional meets and the state tournament, here is an update on some of the local teams.

Ponderosa

The Mustangs finished third at the Centennial-Continental League championships and fourth overall in the Region II qualifier with 166.35 points. The team had one final regional meet to qualify for state Oct. 29 and make what coach Lisa Fisher called their goal for the rest of the season, qualifying for state. The results were not available by press time.

Some of the major highlights of the season for the team have been Andie Azofeifa scoring a 9.5 on floor at the Overland Invitational, and Haley Cameron getting her tsukahara vault to her feet.

“Four of the six girls stuck the beam at the Cherry Creek Invitationa; Haley Cameron, Liz Coker, Kaylee DeBoer and Andie Azofeifa, and Alexis Grimm coming back from an injury last year and being able to vault and do floor are highlights,” Fisher said.

Liz Coker also won the Ponderosa championships. The whole team has been big contributors in the team’s success this year.

“Andie has been our leader in terms of clutch performances,” Fisher said. “Liz Coker has provided valuable leadership, and Haley Cameron has worked very hard to upgrade routines. Addison Babineau has had an incredible freshmen season.”

Rock Canyon

At the beginning of October, Rock Canyon High School gymnastics, combining all four public Highlands Ranch high schools, was ranked No. 10 in the state. The team since faced some major obstacles with injuries and girls being out of town for break and other commitments.

Despite this, “The girls continue to work hard and to improve their scores for this last regional meet and state,” four-year assistant coach Susan Quatrocelli said.

The team finished fifth in their region last year and placed fifth again this year at the 2010 Centennial-Continental League championships, just a few points behind Heritage and Ponderosa.

The team is hoping to add some additional state qualifiers from there two last year. Junior Francis Shea returned this year and is a state qualifier contender along with senior Nikki Hansley, from Highlands Ranch High School, who placed first-team All-League on floor exercise and placed sixth all-around for the Centennial and Continental League.

The freshmen have really stepped up for the team including Rock Canyon’s Rachel Teeter and Lia Cristadoro and ThunderRidge freshman Claudia Hnulik, who have been competing in the varsity all-around.

Madi O'Rourke, a freshman at Canyon, has had to step up to compete floor and vault for varsity due to injuries.

Individual state qualifiers and the final qualifying teams for state were not available by press time with one more regional to go.

In the place they stand, Cherry Creek with a score of 181.65 has secured a spot, being the top team in the state, and with a team score of 172, Rock Canyon will also qualify.