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Gymnastics: Camas gymnasts have big expectations

Two-time state champs have depth to go for third title

By Tim Martinez, Columbian Assistant Sports Editor

Published: December 22, 2019, 2:00pm

Camas gymnastics team members hoist the state championship trophy on the podium at the 2019 state meet. (Andy Buhler/The Columbian files)

When Camas gymnastics won its first state team title in school history in 2018, it was cause for excitement.

When the Papermakers followed that up with a second consecutive state championship last February, it was cause for validation. Camas showed it belonged among the elite programs in the state.

Now as another loaded Camas teams prepares for the 2019-20 season, it is cause for something new — expectation.

“I’ve had people come up to me and say ‘You guys going to get the three-peat?’ ” Camas coach Carol Willson said. “It’s like now we’re expected to win. But I was looking at scores from around the state, and Woodinville scored like a 173. They are going to be right on us.”

That has prompted Willson to find new ways to keep her crew of 40 gymnasts motivated to improve during the season.

“Before our first meet, I gave the girls a number I wanted to them to hit,” Willson said. “Get that score, and they could get a day off from practice. Carol needs a day off, too. And they went out and got that number with plenty to spare.”

And the Papermakers achieved their first goal with their top gymnasts watching from the sideline.

Junior Shea McGee, the 2019 4A all-around state champion, did not compete in Camas’ first meet of the season while she dealt with a minor hand injury. But the Papermakers didn’t miss a beat.

“That’s where our strength is going to be this year — our depth,” Willson said.

Camas returns four gymnasts who competed in the all-around final at state last year. In addition to McGee, Alyssa Shibata placed sixth at state, Peyton Cody tied for eighth and Lili Ford was 11th.

This season, McGee, Shibata and Ford are juniors; Cody is a sophomore.

Also, seniors Lizzy Wing and Morgan MacIntyre return from last year’s state champion team, in addition to sophomore Olivia Bane, who qualified for the state finals on the bars.

And the talent pool gets even deeper this year with the addition of freshman Emma Crawford and junior Katerina Baden, a high-level club gymnast competing for the high school team for the first time.

“I think with our success, we’re finding more kids who want to come out and be part of the team,” Willson said.

It provides the coach with an enviable problem, trying to find places in the lineup for all of those lineups.

“We’ve got kids on our program who would be on varsity at other schools, and I’m just trying to find a spot to get them into a meet,” Willson said.

Willson said she’s seen the program grow from five gymnastics in her first year at Camas. And she’s also noticed a growth in numbers in other programs around Clark County.

“I think you look at the teams we had at our first meet, and it’s great to see so many kids out for gymnastics,” Willson said. “I’d like to think our success had a little something to do with that. It’s great for gymnastics in the area.”

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