The Silverthorne Storm has been working to secure spots to the state gymnastic meet since the beginning of September. 

After taking the month of August off following the 2024 summer competition season, athletes enthusiastically returned to the Silverthorne Recreation Center in hopes of improving their routines.

The Silverthorne Storm spent hours in the gym — falling, failing, but ultimately pushing through until they felt confident in both themselves and their routines.

From Friday, July 18, through Saturday July 19, Silverthorne Storm gymnasts got the opportunity to earn a spot at the Colorado Association of Recreational Athletics (CARA) state meet by competing at the regional competition.

Taking place in the Denver area, athletes vied to finish within the top six in any individual event or in the all-around to qualify for the state meet the following weekend.

In total, the Storm managed to qualify 19 of its 23 athletes to the state meet with 12 of those athletes earning all-around qualifications.

Leading the performances for the team was Annabel Schaaf in the Compulsory 3 Junior B division.

Like she has for most of the season, Schaaf put on a clinic at the regional meet. The experienced gymnast took fourth on the beam, third on the vault, second on the floor and first on the bars to take first overall in the all-around competition with a score of 33.9. 

“She was clean and sharp throughout,” head coach Ben Way said. “She hit her best vault and cleanest floor routine of the season, had her usual solid bar routine, and despite one fall on beam she still came in first in all-around. She was the most focused I’ve seen her all year.”

Kinsley Bunnelle followed Schaaf in the Junior B division taking fifth overall in the all-around competition with a score of 32.00. Bunnelle’s performance was spearheaded by a sixth-place finish on the bars and a second-place finish on the beam. Isabella Sellers also punched her ticket to the state meet, taking fifth overall in the Junior B vault competition. 

In the Compulsory 3 Junior C competition, Amalia Hirsh took fifth on the floor, third on the vault and second on the beam to take second overall in the all-around competition (32.925). Jocelynn Beckerman took fifth on the vault in the Junior C competition, earning her spot at the state meet.

Lyla Ford was the lone Silverthorne Storm athlete to compete in the Compulsory 3 Senior A division. Ford took fifth on the bars, fourth on the floor and first on the beam to combine for a score of 31.2. The score was just enough for Ford to take fourth overall in the all-around competition.

Arwen Vleck was also able to secure an all-around state qualifier. While competing in the Compulsory 3 Senior B competition, Vleck finished sixth on the vault, fourth on the floor, third on the bars and second on the beam to take third overall in all-around (32.4). 

An additional four Storm gymnasts were able to qualify in the all-around competition in the Compulsory 4 divisions. Linora Gilbert took sixth in all-around while competing in the Compulsory 4 Junior A division. Gilbert finished third on the beam and fifth on the floor, securing a total score of 31.55. 

Ansley Falconer was able to place fourth in the Compulsory 4 Junior B all-around competition. Taking fourth on the vault and beam as well as third on the bars, Falconer combined for a score of 31.525. Additionally, Faela Norton took fourth on the bars while competing in the Compulsory 4 Junior B competition. 

Susan Oberheide was the next Storm athlete to qualify for the state competition. Not only was Oberheide able to win the vault competition, but she was also able to take second on the bars and third on the floor. Oberheide combined for a score of 31.825 to take third in the Compulsory 4 Junior C all-around competition.

Kyla Cutler had a state-qualifying performance in the Compulsory 4 Junior C floor competition, earning fifth place.

Competing as part of the Compulsory 4 Senior A competition, Lily Wood took first on the vault, first on the beam and second on the floor to take third overall in all-around (31.1). Emilia Gilbert secured state qualifiers in the vault and bars, taking second and fifth, respectively in the Compulsory 4 Senior A competition. 

The Silverthorne Storm was also able to post several impressive results in the Optional 1 division. As part of the Optional 1 Junior A division, Kylee Bingham took fifth on the bars, third on the vault and third on the floor to take sixth overall in the all-around competition (25.925).

Tenley Rozinski was able to nab a state qualifier in the Optional 1 Junior C beam competition. Rozinski took second overall on the beam to earn one of the six, state-qualifying spots. 

Eloise Hood and Danika Barth were the final two Storm athletes to earn state-qualifying marks. Hood took third on the floor, second on the bars and second on the beam to take second overall in the Optional 1 Senior A all-around competition (28.775).

Barth finished four places later in sixth place overall with a score of 25.725. Barth’s strong performance was led by a sixth-place finish on the bars. 

With one all-around champion and six individual event champions, Way could not be more proud of how the team is competing this late in the season.

“Everyone gave their best effort and we really saw a lot of improvement from all throughout the year,” Way said “We coaches are proud of the way the Storm team represented themselves, and Silverthorne.”

State-qualified athletes will now get the opportunity to compete at the state competition from Saturday, July 26, through Sunday, July 27, at the Hyland Hills Sports Center in Westminster.