Decatur wins all-city gymnastics meet by narrow margin
Published 11:40 am Friday, February 5, 2016
All of the Federal Way schools concluded their gymnastics regular season with the all-city meet Wednesday, Jan. 27. Decatur went home the winners with a 143.15 to 142.15 victory over second-place Federal Way.
Beamer and Jefferson also posted formidable respective scores of 138.25 and 135.85.
The Gators are a very young team, featuring more freshmen than upperclassmen, but they were able to overcome the more experienced teams.
“I am very excited with the youth and potential we will have in the next few years,” Decatur head coach Jenifer Hunt said via email. “They are eager and willing to learn new skills and perform more events than they are used to in middle school.”
Decatur was led by freshman Starleen Acorda, a former level-7 gymnast, all season.
At the all-city meet, Acorda was first in the floor routine with a score of 9.5. She tied for first in the vault event with a score of 8.5. She took second in the bars event with a score of 7 and was second all-around with a score of 32.25.
Four other freshmen and one junior also played a huge part in the Gators’ win.
Arianna Bell was third in the beam event with a score of 7.5. Jessica Karmel was fourth in the vault with 8.2. Harleigh Martin finished fifth in the vault with 8.1. Sarah Chung was sixth in the vault with 8.0.
Junior Chantel Thomas was fourth in the floor event with a score of 8.6 and tied for sixth with teammate Sarah Chung.
“We definitely had room to improve our score with falls and missed connections,” Hunt said. “But they were pumped up to finish strong.”
Federal Way’s Polly Tieu was the top performer at the meet.
She was first in the vault and bars events with scores of 8.5 and 7.3. She finished with an all-around score of 32.7. She was also the only vaulter to finish in the top six that was not from Decatur.
Beamer’s Seresa Favors won the beam event with a score of 8.1.
The South Puget Sound League sub-District meet will take place on Saturday, Feb. 6, at Mount Rainier High School. The meet starts at 9 a.m.
