SHORELINE — The odds must be crazy.
Nevertheless, when the scores were tabulated at last week’s second annual Shoreline Cup, the Shorecrest and Shorewood gymnastics teams surfaced with the same exact total.
The district rivals both compiled 151.9 team points, prompting Shorewood coach Susan Riley’s announcement that a second cup would have to be purchased.
“Ties in gymnastics don’t happen very often, because (scores) go down to the tenth,” Riley said. “That just means both schools did well. That was nice to see.”
The Feb. 6 meet at Shorewood High School also served as a 3A sub-regional for Shorecrest, Sehome, Bellingham and Squalicum.
With its total of 163.2 points, Sehome clinched the lone team berth to the District 1/2 meet, Feb. 15 at Sammamish High School. Four Scots are advancing in two or more individual events.
Though she missed out on an automatic all-around bid by about half a point, sophomore Kristina Bendikson still qualified for regionals in all four events and posted a meet-high score of 8.85 on beam.
While injuries prevented Bendikson from competing in a full rotation of events at the start of the season, her beam routine wasn’t affected.
“When she was injured, (beam) was the one thing she could work on,” Shorecrest coach Bonnie Carr said. “She has gorgeous lines and awesome skills on beam.”
Shorecrest swept the four regional berths on beam, with senior captains Jessica and Erin Devoir and freshman Samantha Young all moving on. Jessica Devoir was right behind Bendikson in the all-around standings and also qualified in all four events.
Erin Devoir also earned spots in floor and vault and Young had Shorecrest’s highest mark on bars with a 6.95.
After the top two team scores and the next four all-around finishers at regionals are extracted, 10 additional individuals per event will advance to next week’s 3A state championships.
Carr figures Shorecrest’s best chances of securing a state qualifier will come on beam.
“Beam is a very mental event,” she said. “If they bring their best routines, I think they’ll make it.”
Shorewood joins four teams from last week’s Kingco 4A sub-regional meet at tomorrow’s 4A regional meet. State berths go to the top two teams, the top two all-around finishers and an additional eight individuals per event.
Riley said the Kingco schools present a stiff challenge for the Thunderbirds.
“It’s a really tough league,” she said. “There are four schools that are scoring right around 170.”
Shorewood’s highest team total of the season was 155.
“We’re improving a bit here and there,” Riley said. “The younger kids have come a long way.”
Alie Hofmann’s all-around score of 33.75 at the Shoreline Cup was a season-best. The junior co-captain registered her highest marks of the year on bars (8.35), floor (8.25) and beam (8.75) — despite a slip that resulted in a half-point deduction.
“She’s progressively getting stronger and she’s more confident,” Riley said. “Her floor routine was all-new this year. As she gets used to doing it, it becomes more natural. And she’s further along in vault than past seasons.”
Along with Hofmann, senior Katie Brick and sophomore Kelsey Wright could contend for state berths, according to Riley.
“Those three all have a legitimate chance of qualifying,” she said. “It’s kind of a matter of how the day goes.”
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