Bellevue-area gymnasts win USA Gymnastics titles
Published 10:30 am Friday, April 9, 2010
The USA Gymnastics Association held the Washington State Championships March 19-21 for levels 7-10 at Seattle Pacific University.
Several local gymnasts, competing for Gymnastics East in Bellevue and Issaquah won and placed in the top three statewide. These girls are nationally-ranked and compete throughout the United States during the competition season.
Jessica Nesis, a 15-year-old level 9, who attends the Pacific Cascade Freshman Campus, won the state championship placing first on vault with a score of 9.425 and first on floor exercise with a score of 9.375. She placed third in all-around with a score of 36.825.
Kaylee Nicklos, who attends Tillicum Middle School in Bellevue, placed fourth in 13-year-old, level 9 all-around with a score of 36.65.
In the level 10 group, Gymnastics East’s Brooke Williams, a 15-year-old attending Interlake High School, won the all-around championship, posting a 36.725 total score. Haley Lange, a freshman at Sammamish HS took gold in the 15-year-old, level 10 vault with a 9.375. Cami Guyer, a junior at Mount Si High School, took the silver for 16-year-olds with an all-around score of 36.60.
Placers at the state meet are moving on to regionals where they will face athletes from Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon, Montana and Idaho. That event will be held April 9-11 at Auburn Mountainview High School in Auburn.
All the Gymnastics East girls compete solely as club gymnasts, hoping for NCAA scholarships. They practice 20 hours/week year round and compete from December through May.
Competition for club gymnastics is broken down by skill level (7-10) and within each level, by age. Level 10 is the highest one can attain before they go “elite” via the Olympic route. Gymnastics East has its headquarters in Bellevue and gyms in Issaquah and Preston. The gym is run by its head coach Kim Thompson.
