T-Birds “Tumble” Their Way to District Title and State Berth

SW Gymnastics - District 1 Champs
Photo by Susan Riley

The Shorewood gymnastics team took first place at the District 1 Gymnastics Championships on Saturday, January 24 at Cascade Elite Gymnastics in Mountlake Terrace; securing the one team berth to the State meet on February 19. 

1. Shorewood  142.55

2. Shorecrest 131.15

3. Sehome 128.225

4. Bellingham 108.65

5. Squalicum 50.1

Shorewood entered the District meet with a 7-1 regular season record, losing only to Bainbridge High School at the first meet of the season, back on December 5.  

“We knew we had a good chance of taking the one team spot to the State meet from our District, however, this is gymnastics, every tenth  counts and it all comes down to how your team does at one meet.” 25 year- Head Coach Susan Riley said. 

Shorewood’s last appearance as a team at the State meet was in 2012. Co-Captains Diana Catinas and Morgan Ramsden were freshman on the team at the time. 

“Going to the State meet for the second time is an amazing experience. Every year is a different dynamic for the team, so we have no clue how far we are going to go. I am so proud of my team.”Ramsden said. “I could not have asked for a more perfect ending to my senior year.  What and incredible feeling---hard work really does pay off.” Catinas added.

Morgan Ramsden takes first place in balance beam
Photo by Geoff Vlcek

Shorewood started the year with a much smaller team then they typically have and lost a couple good gymnasts for one reason or another as the season went on. 

“The team really stepped up and worked hard to add difficulty to their routines and perfect what they had. It has been an interesting season, with a lot of ups and downs, but in the end, the positive outweighed the negative. I am so proud of what these young ladies have accomplished for themselves and their school.” Coach Riley.

In addition to the District team title, Shorewood also had Ramsden as the District Beam Champion and Catinas was the Floor and All Around District Champion. 

“Districts was only my third meet of the year after returning from back surgery, I am so thankful for my quick recovery and my return back to competing. I was not sure I was going to be able to return at all, let alone as an All Around and definitely not end up as a District Champion.” Ramsden stated.  “I have on-going ankle issues and I rolled my ankle pretty good about a week and half before Districts, which was far from ideal. I pushed through, I knew I had to give it my all at Districts” Catinas stated. 

Diana Catinas, first in floor exercise
Photo by Geoff Vlcek

 “Morgan has been at the practices since day one, doing what she was cleared to do by her doctors.  Diana rolled her ankle pretty good, so we had to cut back on training leading up to Districts, which for Diana is not an easy thing to do. I think what impresses me most about these two young ladies is that they are great inspirations and motivators for their teammates, they always put the team above themselves.” Coach Riley said. 

Vault

1) Erin Eiswald  Sehome

2) Diana Catinas Shorewood

3) Julianne Oshiro Shorecrest

Uneven Bars

1) Erin Eiswald  Sehome

2) Diana Catinas  Shorewood

3) Cat Gibbons  Sehome

Balance Beam

1) Morgan Ramsden  Shorewood

2) Sophie Sando  Shorewood

3) Diana Catinas  Shorewood

Floor

1) Diana Catinas Shorewood

2) Annique Nyman Shorecrest

3) Maddie Domico  Bellingham

All Around

1) Diana Catinas  Shorewood

2) Erin Eiswald  Sehome

3) Morgan Ramsden  Shorewood

Joining Catinas and Ramsden on the Shorewood Gymnastics State Team: Olivia Berry, Sophie Sando, Lauren Butcher, Megan Catey, Elly Anderson, Stephanie Dinca and Rebecca Loftquist.