Chapter 23

GIRL'S STATE CHAMPS

(updated 2-19-2007)

The 1972 Girls' Invitational Gymnastics Meet was held at Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane under the direction of Sonja Roach. In 1973, the meet was held at Green River Comm. College in Auburn, under co-direction of Sue Whitney of Bellingham, and Margaret Trimble of Auburn.

In 1973-74, the WIAA State Meet was officially started. It was held at Bellevue Comm. College under directorship of Sue Whitney. There were 58 schools represented with 286 competitors. Compulsories and optionals were held.
The 2nd state meet was held at Juanita High with 54 schools and 191 competitors.
The 3rd annual state meet was held at Sammamish High under the management of Jerry Penny.

GIRL'S STATE TEAM CHAMPS

WIAA CHAMPIONS

1999 was the first year that gymnastics is divided into 4A and 3A/2A divisions at state.

ALL -AROUND WINNERS

INDIVIDUAL WINNERS

VAULT

BARS

BEAM

FLOOR

TRAMPOLINE

TUMBLING

Some Notable Gymnasts:

Linda Fisher, Sehome 1976
Considered the one of the best in state history. Won beam, floor and all-around titles at the 1975 and 1976 state meets. Also was All-American at Oregon State University in both beam and floor and was first gymnast inducted into the OSU Hall of Fame.

Kris Fleming, Bothel 1978
Won six individual state championships in two years at state meet. A fall on beam kept her from winning all-around in the 1977 meet, but she won it in 1978. Competed in NCAA national meet three times for Oregon State.

Taunia Rogers, Inglemoor 1982
Won all four events and the all-around title at the 1982 state meet. Won all-around, vault, beam and tied for first in floor in the 1981 state meet. Her seven state titles were the most at any state meet, until Katie Dinsmore garnered eight by 2002. Five-time All-American at Cal-State Fullerton.

Catherine Williams, Puyallup 1992
Only three-time winner of the state all-around title (1990,1991,1992). Competed for UW 1993.

Kerri McKay, Sehome 1993
Placed second three years in a row at the state meet (1990-92) before finally winning the all-around title her senior year in 1993. Won bars four years in a row and floor twice.

Farrah Fabien, Newport 1995
Fabien was a great vaulter. She won the event three times at the state meet and floor twice. She also won the all-around at the 1995 state meet. Went on to coach gymnastics.

Celeste Montalvo, Sehome 1998
Won state all-around titles her last two seasons. Won floor in 1998, and floor and vault in 1997.

Bridgett Finkbonner, Sehome 1999
Scored first perfect 10 - in floor- at state in 1999. Also won two events and also all-around.

Katie Dinsmore, 3A, Lakeside 2002
Won all four events and the all around in 2002 3A Championships - only the second person in the state to do so. Ended her high school career with eight titles.

Liz Grajewski, 4A, Kentwood 2002
Almost succeeded in winning the all-around title three years in a row, but took second in 2002. Liz, however, did win 4A vault, bars and floor State Championship three years in a row, 2000. '01, '02! Liz holds the most 1st places in WA. High School State records with 11 golds.

Anissa Madrid, 3A, Kennedy
Won or tied all four events in 2004 and was 2nd all-around. 2006 Vault, Bars and Floor Champ. She won her eigth state title her senior year on floor in 2007. She also took 2nd all-around and 2nd on Beam and Vault.

Carrie Dragland, 4A, Bothell
Scored the second 10 in high school history in 2007 on vault with a Yurchenko tuck full. She also won the state all-around title in 2006 and 2007, and won floor, vault and beam in 2007. Carrie won beam and vault in 2006 along with her state title to give her 7 state titles. (That put her second to Liz Grajewski in the 4A division for total titles. Liz has 11.)