Free State wins long-sought league gymnastics crown

Source: The Star

Susan Pfannmuller | special to the star

Elayna Briggs of Olathe Northwest did her floor routine during the Sunflower League gymnastics meet at Shawnee Mission South.

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Always the bridesmaid, never the bride. It’s a feeling the Lawrence Free State and Shawnee Mission Northwest gymnastics teams have become accustomed to in recent years.

The Firebirds and Cougars have consistently finished near the top of the Sunflower League, and the state for that matter, but both squads also have consistently finished behind perennial powerhouses Lawrence and Olathe East.

With the Chesty Lions and Hawks, who combined have won the last seven Kansas state titles, in rebuilding mode, the league championship race was available for the taking.

Led by Drue Davis, Free State happily took advantage, beating SM Northwest by 2.100 points for the Sunflower League crown Thursday night at SM South.

“I’m really excited for them, because both schools are important to me and it’s nice to see that Free State gets a chance now to excel at this sport,” said Firebirds coach Kathy Johnson, who also coaches the Lawrence program.

Davis, a senior, was unrivaled as she jumped and twirled to a 36.700 all-around score, giving her a comfortable win by 2.075 points more any other competitor. She won the balance beam (9.200), floor exercise (9.450) and vault (9.650), while finishing fifth on the uneven bars (8.400).

“I was very proud of her today,” Johnson said. “She had a fabulous meet, and we’re on track to what we’re hoping to do by the time state gets here. She’s not peaked yet. There are still things she knows she needs to work on, but today she knows she had a very good meet and she’s progressing.”

Davis nailed the landing on her vault a front handspring-front flip, which starts with a cartwheel onto the board and ends with a flip into a blind landing to start the meet in grand style.

“I did not expect to stick it,” Davis said. “I’ve been landing it on my feet, but not upright. I’ve been landing it in a squat. It’s a blind landing, so I couldn’t believe it. It wasn’t so much a surprise, but a relief.”

It’s a move she worked hard on throughout the summer when a bum shoulder allowed her to, because she figured a strong vault score could separate her when the season got down to league, regionals and state.

The roar when she stuck her landing vibrated through the SM South main gym.

“I can do it again,” Davis said. “It’s been a slow progression, because that vault is so hard. I’ve landed that vault on my butt like a thousand times, so it’s nice to land it on my feet.”

SM Northwest’s Sierra Trussell was the runner-up in the all-around (34.625). She edged SM East’s Katye Bever, who won the bars (8.900), by 0.425 points.

submitted by TOD PALMER - 2009-10-22 23:16:01