TACOMA — Another year, another two state championships for Heritage gymnast Britni Atwell.
Same two, in fact.
Atwell, a sophomore, defended her 2010 Class 4A titles with 2011 victories on the vault and the floor exercise at the 4A state gymnastics championships Saturday at the Tacoma Dome’s Exhibition Hall.
“Exciting, right?” she asked, beaming a huge smile.
Sure is. And not just for Atwell. Union’s Sami Jo Martin won the bars title, and Columbia River’s Jennifer DeBellis and Jordan Hess won 3A titles, giving Clark County five of the eight championships in the individual event finals.
“That’s cool. We are good, and gymnastics needs more acknowledgement,” Atwell said.
Atwell struggled to qualify for state at the regional tournament, missing out on the other two events. This week, she focused on the positive — the chance to win the same events as last season.
Her 9.625 on the vault edged out Martin for the title. Martin finished second at 9.6. Atwell was the final competitor in the event, and she knew what she had to beat.
“It was one of the best vaults I’ve done this season,” Atwell said. “When I saw my score put up, it was really a good feeling.”
Atwell was the third competitor on the floor, and she did not know that Newport’s Kristine Wong had posted a 9.75 as the first athlete in the event.
“I knew if I got around a 9.7, I’d have a chance,” Atwell said. “But I went third. There were others behind me.”
She was closer to “around” 9.8, scoring a 9.775. The six athletes after her did not threaten that number.
“I wanted to come in and just have fun,” Atwell said. “State finals is all about fun and cheering on other people to do good.
“The only word I can really think of is ‘excitement.’ ”
Martin, a freshman, finished first and second in her two events. She posted a 9.6 on the bars for the lead, then had to wait through three more competitors to find out if she had won.
“I was hoping it was good enough, but I didn’t want to wish bad luck on anyone,” Martin said.
At the same time, she wasn’t really concerned with the placing. She had dislocated a pinky finger earlier this season — it is still not completely healed — yet she pulled off a solid bars routine at state.
“I was so happy with what I did,” she said. “Even if I didn’t place first, I was just so happy with how I performed.”
Martin said earlier at state that this might be her last high school meet. She intends to focus on club gymnastics. So this weekend has been special for her.
“This means a lot. I have a team that supports me with everything, and the surroundings are just amazing,” Martin said.
Without hesitation, Atwell promised to be back again next year.
She cannot guarantee more state titles, but she knows she will be the only one at state who has four championships in two events in her first two high school seasons.
Exciting, right?
