Area gymnasts win state title

  • By Staff Report
  • Monday, March 24, 2014 11:32pm
  • Sports

River City Cheer and Gymnastics of Soldotna took the Level 2 state title this weekend at the USA Gymnastics Alaska State Meet 2014.

The meet, the focal point of year-round training, was held in Anchorage, drawing gymnasts from around the state.

The coaches for River City are Shannon Evarts and Cari Winger. Evarts said River City changed its training program last summer and is starting to see some great success.

“Our River City group consisted of five girls and most very new to the sport,” Evarts said in a released statement. “We walked into this meet thinking it would be a great experience for the girls, but had no idea that we would bring home a title.”

Kalee Vanderwall, 10, was the all-around champ in her age group. She piled up 37.825 points in the bars, vault, beam and floor. Milena Doyle, 10, took second on the balance beam, while Karen Evarts, 7, took first place in her age group on vault and floor. Katelyn Morrison, 8, took second in vault and bars and was second in the all-around in her age group with 36.650 points. Katelynn Yoder, 7, was third on uneven bars.

The work of the five girls at Level 2 was enough to unseat Arctic Gymnastics of Anchorage, which is one of the top gyms in the state.

River City also had a pair of Level 3 gymnasts turn in impressive performances. Isabella O’Quinn, 11, was third in the all-around with 36.100 points, only .35 from first place. Sophie Thomas, 12, took fourth on floor with a 9.250 and fifth on vault with a 9.35.

Evarts said 23 gymnasts are currently training at River City, so the future is bright.

More in Sports

Ninilchik's Kade McCorison moves to shoot over attempted blocks by Aniak's William and Troy Morgan during a basketball game at Ninilchik School in Ninilchik, Alaska, on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Ninilchik’s Kade McCorison, CIA’s Ian McGarry make all-state first teams

The Alaska Association of Basketball Coaches sent out its all-state basketball teams… Continue reading

Roope Tuomioksa of the Kenai River Brown Bears attacks Payton Nelson and goalie Nick Erickson of the Minnesota Wilderness on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Saturday: Brown Bears finish sweep of Wilderness

The Kenai River Brown Bears completed a two-game sweep of the Minnesota… Continue reading

tease
Friday: Brown Bears win 2nd straight

The Kenai River Brown Bears defeated the Minnesota Wilderness 4-1 on Friday… Continue reading

tease
Friday: Seward boys fall to Barrow in 4th-place game

The Seward boys basketball team lost the fourth-place game 66-42 to Barrow… Continue reading

Me working in the Alaska House of Representatives on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 in Juneau, Alaska. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)
Out of the Office: Juneau

It was kind of happenstance that I spent the last month living… Continue reading

Greg Fallon, Kenai, receives his gold medal for his team’s 4x400m relay 2005 or later mix effort from Mat-Su Borough Mayor Edna DeVries. (J. David McChesney/Frontiersman)
Peninsula athletes compete, win at Arctic Winter Games

23 athletes from the Kenai Peninsula, representing Kenai, Soldotna, Nikiski, Sterling and Homer, brought home 31 Ulus

tease
Thursday: Seward boys hold off Houston to make 4th-place game

The Seward boys basketball team defeated Houston 51-43 on Thursday to advance… Continue reading

tease
Thursday: Sitka girls knock Homer from Class 3A state tourney

The Homer girls basketball team was eliminated from the Class 3A state… Continue reading

tease
Wednesday: Grace Christian defeats Seward in 1st round

The No. 3-seeded Grace Christian boys basketball team defeated No. 6 Seward… Continue reading

Most Read