Jennifer DeBellis has a difficult time talking about just her accomplishments.
This gymnastics season is not about her, she says. She is all about the team, and her teammates.
“That first day of state, I’m focusing on the team,” she said. “That’s why I don’t remember what my all-around (score) was. State, in general, is one thing after another.”
Still, by the end of that first day, the meet determines its all-around placers. DeBellis, a junior from Columbia River, finished fourth in the all-around competition — tops among all Clark County gymnasts.
The next day, she won the Class 3A state floor exercise for the second time in three seasons, and placed in two other events — second in bars and sixth on vault.
Her performance solidified her as The Columbian’s choice for All-Region gymnast of the year.
“It was truly exciting,” DeBellis said of state. “It was a big adrenaline rush.”
True to form, she was more enthusiastic about her team’s third-place finish at state than her own showings. The Chieftains were without another fine gymnast, Jordan Hess, for most of the state competition. She had torn an ACL in a knee the previous week at the district championships.
The Chieftains, who were seeded third coming into state, knew they would not be able to crack the top two without Hess, but they wanted to hold on to third place.
“We could have given up,” DeBellis said.
Instead, they were inspired by Hess, who still competed in one event — winning the state championship on the bars, with DeBellis taking second.
DeBellis had to help up Hess to the first-place position on the podium. Once they were there, it was a special moment for all of the Chieftains.
“Jordan deserved it all the way,” DeBellis said. “It was a great feeling, knowing our little team could do so well.”
Individually, DeBellis knows how to win, too.
“Floor is my love in gymnastics,” she said. “The other events, I like them because it makes me an all-around.”
The floor exercise is joy, though, something she takes to heart. As a freshman, she won the state title. As a sophomore, she finished second, one-tenth of a point out of first. That drove her this season.
“There was a lot of tension going into Saturday,” she said, because she wanted it so much.
Then she ruled her performance for another title.
