Individual state title runs come up just short

As state wrestling heated up inside the Tacoma Dome, both local gymnasts and boys divers and swimmers took their skills to the state stage.

Several local gymnasts made it to the final day at the state gymnastics championships in the individual events on Saturday at the Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall.

In the Class 1A/2A/3A finals, Bonney Lake High’s Hailey Taylor and Sumner’s Emi Bacha both reached Saturday’s rotation. Taylor just missed coming away with a state title in the floor routine after the junior had a near-flawless showing.

Taylor set the stage with a score of 9.600, but she came up short after Mount Spokane’s Jade Anderson 9.625 just bested her opening score.

Bacha faced a tough competition in the vault as the Spartan finished in eighth with a score of 9.450.

Puyallup’s Kate Jacobsen entered the two-day event as the only local all-around competitor, but after Friday, the senior only competed in the 4A uneven bars and floor. Jacobsen finished in fifth (9.425) in floor and sixth (8.875) in bars.

Emerald Ridge’s Kelly Richardson placed eighth (8.500) in bars on Saturday.

At the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way, Sumner’s Rafael Rodriguez was the youngest of the top five divers to place in the Class 3A diving competition.

The sophomore finished in fifth place with a score of 380.50. Glacier Peak junior Connor Mays (461.05) won the 3A title.

This story was originally published February 24, 2016 at 2:10 PM with the headline "Individual state title runs come up just short."