Gymnasts headed to state meets

Published 1:30 am Monday, February 13, 2017

The city of Shoreline will be well represented at this week’s 2A/3A state gymnastics meet. Shorecrest’s Julianne Oshiro, Jacy Elizondo and Victoria Collins, along with Christina Warner of Shorewood, will compete at the meet, to be held Thursday and Friday at the Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall.

Oshiro (floor and vault), a junior, will be making her third straight state appearance. Sophomores Elizondo (uneven bars) and Collins (balance beam) are in their first year of high school competition.

“Julianne’s goal is to place higher than she has in previous years,” Scots coach Shelby Bushman said. “She’s gotten stronger, and with that comes a lot more skill. She’s the hardest worker on our team.

“I’m impressed by how physically strong (Jacy) is. She’s a natural athlete, and picks up new skills quicker than anyone. Victoria was a club athlete and retired, but we convinced her to come back, and I’ve been impressed by how quickly she’s picked up her old skills. She has mental strength that a lot of high school gymnasts lack because of her club experience.”

Warner (all-around) turned out for the Thunderbirds team for the first time as a sophomore. She competed in club gymnastics when she was younger, but retired two years ago.

“She’s a really hard worker,” Shorewood coach Susan Riley said. “She slowly added skills and got more comfortable as the season went on. At the start of the year, we told her to focus on just having fun, and her love of the sport (is evident). She loves to encourage her teammates. She’s an inspiration.”

Monroe’s Emilee Simicich will compete at the 4A state meet, to be held Friday and Saturday in Tacoma, in the vault and floor events.