Bell girls shooting for another state gymnastics title

The L.D. Bell girls gymnastics team is one of the best in Texas every year.

Soon, the Lady Raiders hope to be the best in the state, something they’ve done 19 previous times.

The Lady Raiders, top-ranked throughout the season by average score, are among the favorites in the Texas High School Gymnastics Championships Friday and Saturday at Saginaw Chisholm Trail.

Bell is coming off the Region IV championship, scoring 231.550 points, with rival Euless Trinity finishing second with 220.900. Meanwhile, the Trinity boys were second with 324.700 to Saginaw’s 340.900.

“They did a great job at regionals and we had our best meet of the season on every event except for optional bars,” Bell coach Debbie Williams said. “Nothing matters up until now since it all starts over at the state meet.

“I do think that San Angelo (Central) is strong as always as well as Round Rock and Atascocita. Of course anyone could hit on that given day and win. Heath, Rockwall, Highland Park and Trinity are always contenders.”

San Angelo Central won state last season with Bell finishing second. Atascocita was third.

The Lady Raiders had the top two individual finishers in all-around competition at regionals. Alexis Martin edged teammate Kyleigh Prather, 77.550-77.450. Also for Bell, Amanda White was fifth at regionals in all-around.

Last season Martin finished 10th at state in all-around and Prather was 15th. Also at state last season, Martin tied for third on the balance beam and was fifth in floor exercise.

Bell had the top three finishers at regionals in the balance beam, Martin, White and Prather. Martin was also first in the floor exercise and fifth in the vault and uneven bars. Prather tied for second in vault and was third in uneven bars, and White was third in floor and fourth in vault.

Trinity was led at regionals by Rebecca Stricklin, who was seventh all-around. Hailey Jarzunka was eighth. Stricklin also placed fourth in uneven bars.

Trinity boys also make state

Like their female counterparts, the Trinity Trojans boys team will be competing at state. It was led Donovan Yancy and Christian Head, who were fourth and sixth all-around respectively.

“The guys did a great job at regionals,” said coach Travis Coulbourn. “We finished second as a team, but most importantly I feel like it has given them a boost in confidence. We got some momentum going and I am hoping we can carry that into the state meet.”

Though the L.D. Bell boys came up short as a team, finishing fifth at regionals, coach Sean Sims’ squad did qualify two individuals for state. Mikko Macapagal was seventh on the pommel horse and Adam Tice was seventh on parallel bars.

Last season Macapagal was eighth at state in pommel horse. Yancy placed ninth in the horizontal bars.

Yancy narrowly missed a top-10 all-around placement at state in 2015, placing 11th. Head was 16th.

As a team, Trinity was sixth at state last season. San Angelo Central won and Saginaw was second.

At regionals, Yancy was third in pommel horse and vault, fourth in the high bar, and fifth in rings. He was eighth in parallel bars.

Head posted five top-10 finishes in events, taking sixth in floor, pommel horse and parallel bars, along with seventh in high bar and 10th in vault. Christian Brummett was eighth in vault and 10th in parallel bars.

This story was originally published April 25, 2016 at 11:12 AM with the headline "Bell girls shooting for another state gymnastics title."