Mount Si’s gymnastics team wrapped up another successful season with a solid finish at the state 3A gymnastics meet February 18 and 19 in Tacoma.
The Wildcats took sixth in the team competition, scoring 159.325 points, their highest total of the season. Mount Si’s efforts were led by senior Kennedy Richmond. In her final high school competition, Richmond, who led the Wildcats throughout the season in the all-around, was once again tops in that category for Mount Si. She scored 35.5 to take 15th overall among all individual competitors.
Richmond took 13th on the bars with a 8.5 on day one February 18, and that earned her an appearance in this event’s individual final, which took place February 19. The Wildcat closed out her high school career scoring a 7.95, finishing 15th in that day’s event. She was the only Mount Si representative in any of the individual event finals.
Mount Si punched its state ticket, its third in a row, after a thrilling district meet February 12 which saw the top three teams all finish within just a couple points of one another. The Wildcats were right in the middle of that, scoring a 152.837, finishing just a sliver behind league rival Mercer Island, who scored 153.175.
Richmond was very much in the mix during that meet, taking third in the all-around, but there were other key performances as well. Freshman Carissa Castagno’s 8.4 earned her fourth on the beam, a performance which once again showed her potential. Castagno was one of the top freshmen this season in Kingco 3A, and she will be counted on next season to help lead this team.
Sophomore Elizabeth Holmes also will look to improve next season, and she had a solid season herself this year, with a ninth-place 7.9 on the beam in the district meet also being a key factor for Mount Si in that competition.
The Wildcats finished the regular season undefeated, and this program, while it loses a key figure in Kennedy Richmond, looks very strong going into next season. In addition to Castagno and Holmes, Kennedy’s sister, sophomore Hannah, will aim to help the Wildcats remain on top. Hannah Richmond had many solid performances this season, so coach Jessica Easthope will be looking for more of those next season from the junior-to-be. Other athletes who will be back and will likely fill a key leadership role include juniors Lexi Swanson and Brooke Bonner, both of whom will be seniors next season. Also watch out for Aubrey McMichael. McMichael, who will be a sophomore in 2011-12, could contend for the rotation spot being vacated by Richmond, and had a solid season herself this winter.
The Wildcat gymnastics program will continue to be a force to be reckoned with in Kingco 3A long into the future.
