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Storm reigns over regional qualifying scores in home meet

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SILVERTHORNE – Many of the gymnasts on the Silverthorne Storm Gymnastics Team threw down the best routines of their lives last weekend during the 10-team Colorado Association of Recreational Athletics (CARA) meet.

Thirteen of the 14 Storm gymnasts scored their best All Around (AA) score of the year, two more gymnasts qualified for the regional meet (July 18-19), and five who had already qualified picked up other spots.

Storm coach Ben Way said the meet featured what will probably be his team’s strongest competition until state July 25 and 26.



The Storm’s optional team put six of its eight gymnasts on the award stand.

Kira Breitholtz placed first in four events and second in another while qualifying in AA. Libby Helmer also qualified in AA, placing third, and took top honors on beam with a no-fall 8.0 routine. Sara Lindblom hit a clean bar set, scoring an 8.1 to win the event. She also took second in AA, third on floor and fourth in beam and vault. Chelsee Farrell placed second on beam and placed in three of the other four events. Emily Chant got her first regional qualifying score and took fourth on vault. Chelsea Rybak placed fifth in vault while Brie Anna Barto and Angie Elliot are still knocking on the door for their regional berths. They get one more shot this weekend in Broomfield.



The Storm’s level four team also had a successful weekend, although it was up against a powerhouse team from Berthoud, Way said.

“We had never seen as many girls do the routines so well – one of them even scored a 9.9 on bars,” Way said. “Our team didn’t get psyched out in the least. They watched and said “Oh, that’s how it is supposed to be done.'”

Way gave Silverthorne’s Abby Akers the “take it like a champ award” after she received what Way believed to be an unfair 7.6 score on a floor routine he said at least matched the 8-plus-point routines that preceded it. Akers didn’t let it get her down and came up with her two highest scores and cleanest routines ever, with a 9.2 on bars followed by an 8.8 on beam. She placed fifth in AA, second on bars, third on vault and fourth on beam. Meghan Kane scored a 9.1 on bars, placing third, and placed sixth in AA. Sophie Elliot brought her AA score up by three full points, placing sixth in her age group. She also scored 9.0 on vault to place second. Maddy Trippe competed with a splint, and while doing one-armed beam and floor routines, earned a regional qualifying score on beam. Gabi Ketzenbarger and Jordan Smith both had strong showings, scoring more than 32 points in AA and finishing just off the podium in many events. Brianna Rouillard added floor to her regional repertoire, scoring a 7.0.

The Storm travels to Broomfield this weekend for its last regular season competition.


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