FIFE — Six Port Angeles gymnasts and two Sequim athletes advanced to the Class 2A/3A West Central District Championships after qualifying at the Subregional Championship in Fife on Thursday.
The Roughriders finished fourth overall in the team competition with 139.35 team points and will miss out on competing as a team at the district meet.
Capital finished first as a team (151.75) and Kingston was second (144.075).
“Unfortunately, Port Angeles fell short Thursday night. Due to illness, injury and other unforeseen circumstances, we were unable to come up with the extra 4.725 points we needed to advance to the WCDIII meet as a team,” coach Jackie Mangano said.
“The Olympic/Pierce County League/South Sound Conference has gotten stronger over the years. The girls, as well as the coaches, are disappointed, but they left it all out on the mat and did their best. This is the first year in our coaching history that we have not moved forward from Subdistricts as a team. The competition level was high.”
Gymnasts from the top two teams, eight individual finishes and top four All Around placers advanced to the district meet.
Cassandra Middlestead finished fourth overall in the All Around with 31.83 points for the Riders.
She was fourth on the bars with 7.2 points, fifth on the beam (8.3) and eighth in the floor exercise (8.35) and on the vault (8.0).
Port Angeles freshman Maizie Tucker made the district meet with a 7.5 on the vault.
Cassidy Tamburro qualified in two events: the bars (5.675) and the beam (7.45).
Julienne Jacobs will compete in the floor and on the bars at district after scoring 8.05 and 5.45, respectively in those events.
Junior Halle Coventon also will compete on the beam at district after scoring a 7.05.
Sequim’s Lesae Pfeffer (7.6) and Elizabeth Sweet (7.5) moved on the vault.
Pfeffer also will compete at the district meet in the floor (8.0) and on the beam (7.25).
“Had we advanced as a team [and been] eligible to compete with six girls per event to districts, I am confident we would have been able to advance more girls in more events on to state,” Mangano said.