For the second year in a row, Bothell’s Cora Taylor is the state champion on bars.

The junior scored a 9.675 on bars during the event finals on Feb. 22 to finish first. Taylor said that bars is her favorite event.

“It’s fun and swinging on the bars is pretty easy for me,” Taylor said. “I really enjoy it.”

In the all-around competition on day one, Taylor tied for seventh, with a 37.075. Taylor also competed on vault (ninth, 9.150) and floor (sixth, 9.450) during event finals the next day.

“This is my first year competing floor at state,” Taylor said. “So I think I did pretty well.”

Teammate Angelina Fogliato also qualified for state, scoring a 9.175 on floor.

Bothell’s Cora Taylor finished first on bars during the event finals at the 4A state gymnastics meet, scoring a 37.075 on Feb. 22 at Sammamish High School. This was the second straight year that Taylor finished first on bars. Benjamin Olson/staff photo

North Creek: If there is one word to describe the North Creek gymnastics team, it would be “unity.”

North Creek competed as a team at the 4A gymnastics state meet on Feb. 21 at Sammamish High School, finishing third with a score of 173.475. The Jaguars were one of two teams who qualified for state out of the district, something that head coach Mitch Craig said is a great accomplishment.

“They care about each other very much and they push each other every single day at practice,” Craig said. “So it means a lot to make it as a team.”

North Creek senior Morgan Wyatt said the team sticks together and makes sure to keep a positive attitude, something that paid off during districts. The Jaguars finished second behind Woodinville at the 4A KingCo/District meet with a score of 172.050 on Feb. 8 to qualify for state. Wyatt said qualifying as a team came as a surprise to them.

“We honestly didn’t think we would make it to state as a team. We’re all just really proud,” Wyatt said. “We really stayed united. Our whole mindset is to keep our mind clear, if you mess up, try to get rid of it and move on.”

Throughout the competition at state, the North Creek gymnasts cheered for each other. When two North Creek gymnasts competed new skills on bars, they were met with hugs and high fives from their teammates.

“We were all very nervous and very excited,” Wyatt said. “It’s really fun when everyone is so hyped up about their friend.”

Craig said that unity and support is great to see as a coach.

“That’s what every coach wants to see,” Craig said. “A team that is united, cares for each other and is having a good time doing it.”

In the all-around, Wyatt finished 13th (36.200) and senior Eva Zaro tied for 17th (35.050). The top 16 gymnasts on each event during day one qualified for the event finals on Feb. 22. For North Creek, Wyatt (vault, beam and floor), Zaro (floor) and Giovanna Calozza (floor) all competed during event finals. Wyatt said qualifying for event finals was exciting.

“I started out freshman year not doing too good, but to be here, it’s really rewarding,” Wyatt said.

During event finals, Wyatt tied for sixth on beam (9.325), finished 10th on vault (9.125) and 17th on floor (9.225). Also on floor, Zaro was ninth (9.375) and Calozza was 15th (9.300).

Inglemoor: The Vikings were represented by Julianna Barker (vault, beam and floor) and Whitney Nakata (vault and bars). During individual qualifying, Barker scored an 8.700 on vault, 8.775 on beam and a 9.275 on floor. Nakata scored an 8.100 on vault and an 8.625 on bars.

The North Creek gymnastics team finished third in the team competition at the 4A state gymnastics meet on Feb. 21 at Sammamish High School. Benjamin Olson/staff photo