18th straight state trip didn’t come easy for River gymnasts

? What: WIAA state gymnastics- championships

? When: Friday and -Saturday. Team competition all day Friday. Individual finals at 11 a.m. Saturday.

? Where: Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall

? Updates: Follow -Columbian reporter Paul Valencia on Twitter @360PaulV

This one was a little extra special for the Columbia River gymnastics team.

The Chieftains had to perform just a little bit more than the norm to reach their goal.

So here we are, another gymnastics season, and another trip to the state championships for Columbia River. This will be the 18th consecutive trip to state for the Chieftains.

“This team is unlike any of the other teams we’ve had in the past,” Columbia River coach Alicia Green said. “We’ve never had a team so young that has embraced the Chieftain tradition so early. Our captains took charge.”

The captains are senior Keelie Mahoney and junior Kenzie Moxley.

The team, Green said, “embraced our values and our principals.”

That means the team is stronger than any individual, the coach said.

That’s not just coach-talk. Not at Columbia River. Sure, the team has athletes who could have made it to state as individuals. But at River, there is another focus.

“We go together as a team,” Green said.

This season, for the first time in years, Columbia River had to do more than just win its district championship. This season, there was a qualifying regional after district.

“We trained all year for that,” Green said. “Everything was practice for regionals.”

That way, the Chieftains were at their best at the one meet. River did top its district championship score at regionals and placed second — good enough to take one of the eight team positions at the Class 3A state championships.

Some of the other teammates include: Sarah Ellis, Morgan Fitzer, and Julie Fergus, all freshman.

Sierra Hayden, meanwhile, is one of the top gymnasts on the team but has been out the past few weeks with a season-ending injury. The Chieftains made it to state even without her scores.

“They’re determined,” Green said. “I can’t say enough about them.”

Gymnastics notes — The Class 4A team and individual all-around competition begins at 9 a.m. Friday at the Tacoma Dome’s Exhibition Hall. Miranda Lea of Skyview is in the all-around competition. Others from 4A Greater St. Helens League will try to qualify for individual event finals.

The 3A/2A/1A individuals will compete in the Friday afternoon session, with the march-in scheduled for 1:15 p.m. Kylee Tjensvold of Ridgefield and Megan Beatty of Hudson’s Bay are in all four events. Others from the region will try to qualify for individual event finals.

The 3A/2A/1A team competition will begin with the march-in at 6:20 p.m. Friday.

Individual event championships begin at 11:20 a.m. Saturday.