By Michael Carman

Peninsula Daily News

KENT — Port Angeles and Sequim gymnasts are moving on to the state meet after competing in the Class 2A/3A West Central District Gymnastics meet Friday at Kent-Meridian High School.

The Roughriders finished fifth as a team at the meet with 139 points, with Sequim 10th and White River claiming the team crown with 156.475 points.

The top eight finishers in each event, the top eight all around scores and two teams (White River and Capital) qualified for state out of the meet.

Sequim’s Emma Sharp will compete in all four events at the state meet Thursday and Friday at Sammamish High School after finishing eighth in the all around with a score of 30.6.

Sharp was fourth in the vault with a score of 8.2, seventh on the beam (8.55) and also posted scores of 7.75 in the floor exercise and 6.1 on the bars.

Port Angeles junior Aiesha LaTourette placed third in the vault (8.25) and fourth in the floor exercise (8.375).

Roughriders freshman Anne Edwards was sixth in the vault (8.2) and eighth in the floor exercise (8.2). She also made state in the bars (6.3).

Sequim junior Lesae Pfeffer was third on the balance beam (8.95) and will compete at state in the vault (7.8) and floor exercise (7.6).

Other state qualifiers for Port Angeles include freshman Mei Ying Harper-Smith in the vault (7.95) and beam (7.95); senior Julienne Jacobs on the bars (5.6) and floor (7.4) and freshman Danica Pierson on the bars (5.85)

A total of 11 individuals advanced to state in each event. If an athlete was in the top eight in the all around or on a team qualifying for state their scores were “thrown out” and the next highest scoring individuals advanced.

Jackie Mangano Sequim’s Emma Sharp competes on the balance beam during the Class 2A/3A West Central District Gymnastics meet at Kent-Meridian High School. Sharp advanced in the all-around and will compete in all four events at state