3A/2A district gymnastics: Hockinson’s Celia Racanelli captures all-around title

It was only a year ago that Hockinson High School had gymnasts for the first time. 

While it doesn’t have a team — the Hawks officially practice with Battle Ground and Prairie — the past two seasons have been rewarding for Celia Racanelli as a high school gymnast. Racanelli is a former club gymnast, who decided to participate in the sport again — just in a different atmosphere. 

“I love it,” the Hockinson senior said Saturday. “It’s been really good. It’s been redemption for doing club (gymnastics) for so long. It’s a way to calm down and really enjoy gymnastics.”

And for the first time, Hockinson has its first district champion. At Saturday’s 3A/2A district meet at Naydenov Gymnastics, Racanelli turned in an all-around performance on all four apparatus to be crowned all-around champion. Her score of 35.85 sends her to state as the district’s all-around champion. 

Racanelli scored identical 9.200 marks on both vault and floor, events she said are her favorites. She earned top scores Saturday on vault and bars (8.700). 

It’ll also be a different state experience for Racanelli next week at Sammamish High School than in 2023. An injured ankle meant she competed most of the season not at 100 percent, and only qualified for state in one event — uneven bars. She placed 20th at state. 

She’s hoping to make a more memorable state experience next weekend in the all-around. 

“I’m excited to go in the all-around,” Racanelli said. “(Last year), I watched everyone else compete. … I’m glad that all of Prairie gets to go and it should be a super fun experience.”

Washougal’s Reese Valensky also advanced to state in the all-around as the district runner-up. She placed first first on beam (9.150), second to Racanelli on bars (8.550) and fourth on vault (8.650). 

Prairie used its depth to repeat as district team champion with 162.525 points, besting runner-up Columbia River (158.600). Ky Nemeth’s second-place score on beam (9.100) was the Falcon’s top finish. 

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GYMNASTICS

3A/2A DISTRICTS

At Naydenov Gymnastics

Team scores

1. Prairie, 162.525; 2. Columbia River, 158.600; 3. Mountain View, 133.525; 4. Ridgefield, 131.975; 5, Evergreen, 129.450.

Vault: 1. Celia Racanelli (Hock), 9.200; 2, Angelina Zhukova (Ev), 8.700; 3, Anna Pena Molina (MV), 8.700; 4, Reese Valensky (Wash), 8.650; 5. Macey Chenette (CR), 8.650.

Bars: 1. Celia Racanelli (Hock), 8.7; 2. Reese Valensky (Wash), 8.550; 3. Evie Dreiling (Ridge), 8.550; 4, Macey Chenette, (CR), 8.250; 5. Anna Simal (MV), 8.150.

Beam: 1. Reese Valensky (Wash), 9.150; 2. Ky Nemeth (Pra), 9.100; 3. Macey Chenette (CR), 8.900; 4, Anna Simal (MV), 8.900; 5, Anna Pena Molina (MV), 8.850.

Floor: 1. Evie Dreiling (Ridge), 9.500; 2. Angelina Zhukova (Ev), 9.350; 3. Abby Gherman (Ridge), 9.325; 4. Abigail Mendoza (Pra), 9.250; 5. Hayden Wojack (Pra), 9.225.

All-around: 1. Celia Racanelli (Hock), 35.85; 2. Reese Valensky (Wash), 35.075; 3. Macey Chenette (CR), 34.850; 4. Evie Dreiling (Ridge), 34.750; 5. Angelina Zhukova (Ev), 34.250.