Maia Cannon, performing her routine during the Level 2 state championships. Courtesy photo

High Flyers Gymnasts captured three all-around state titles, eight state event titles, and a total of 50 first, second, and third place medals at the USA Gymnastics Junior Olympic State Championships this month. Anabel Irving and Eliana Rodriguez won all-around state championship titles in Level 2 age group competition, and Emily Smith was named all-around state champion in Level 3.

Jo Jo Gulley and Kiara Thornton placed 2ndall-around in Level 2, while Sarah Worley placed 2nd all-around in Level 4. Level 2 gymnast Isabelle Gill and Level 3 gymnast Siena Rolfe took home 3rd place all-around honors.

Winning 1st place event titles in Level2 were Jo Jo Gulley (uneven bars, floor exercise), Anabel Irving (uneven bars), Eliana Rodriguez (vault, balance beam), and Kiara Thornton (uneven bars). In addition to her all-around title, Emily Smith won Level 3 event titles in vault and uneven bars with a score of 9.5 on both.

Level 2 athletes taking home 2ndplace event medals included Isabelle Gill (uneven bars), Jo Jo Gulley (vault, balance beam), Anabel Irving (balance beam) Kailey Posegate (uneven bars, balance beam), Eliana Rodriguez (floor exercise), and Kiara Thornton (vault). Third place medalists in Level 2 were Isabelle Gill (vault, balance beam), Mairen Hoch (vault), Anabel Irving (vault, floor exercise), Kailey Posegate (vault), Eliana Rodriguez (uneven bars), Kiara Thornton (balance beam), and Tiffany Tovesson (vault).

Lacy Albright finished 4th on uneven bars and 5th all-around, while Katelyn Tapia placed sixth on floor and 7th all-around. Katie Vest scored 36.025 all-around and Maia Cannon scored 35.85 all-around but competed out of age group so were ineligible for awards.

In Level 3 age group competition, Sofia Enriquez took 2ndon uneven bars despite a fall on landing, Elaina Irving earned 2nd place on beam, Megan Martinez placed 2ndon both vault and balance beam, Siena Rolfe took home the silver medal on vault with a score of 9.4, and Emily Smith placed second on balance beam. Bronze medal event winners included Elaina Irving (vault), Sienna Rolfe (uneven bars, balance beam), and Aubrianna Talachy (vault).

Ashley Hammond placed 4th on vault with a 9.5 and 6th all-around. Elizabeth Merrill received 4thon uneven bars and 7th all-around. Valerie Valdez was 5th on vault and 8th all-around. Anna Kirkland placed 7th all-around, and Megan Crawford received her first ever 9.0 on vault. She placed 9th all-around.

Winning 2ndplace in Level 4 events were Sarah Worley (floor exercise) and Emme Mooday (balance beam). Gianna Benelli placed 3rdon uneven bars, as did Sarah Worley, who also took home the bronze medal on balance beam. Norissa Valdez placed 3rdon vault. Alex Hinckley placed 4th on uneven bars and 7th all-around, while Brittney Nguyen placed 6th on vault and 8th all-around.

In the optional state championships, Carley Stilwell placed2ndon Level 6 uneven bars with a score of 9.25 and 3rdon vault with a score of 9.35. She placed fifth all-around. Ashley Bustos placed 4thon vault with a score of 9.275 and seventh all-around in Level 7 competition.

The state championships were sponsored by the New Mexico branch of USA Gymnastics. USA Gymnastics is the governing organization for Junior Olympic gymnastics competition in the United States. Its competitive program focuses on safe, progressive skills development with competition available for girls in Levels 1-10.

High Flyers Gymnastics, at 1900 Diamond Drive, is a member club of USA Gymnastics and offers gymnastics classes for boys and girls ages 18 months through adult. For more information on gymnastics classes, contact High Flyers at 505.500.5699 or visit www.lahighflyers.com.