Event of the week: Broomfield, Niwot look to do some damage at state gymnastics
Nov. 1—When Broomfield gymnastics steps onto the mats at Thornton High School on Thursday, it will be looking to secure its third Class 5A state championship in as many years. Niwot, in 4A, will look to push up its stock from last year's third-place finish.
Both are already off to a promising start.
At the regional that Arvada West hosted on Saturday, both the Eagles and the Cougars secured regional championships in their respective classifications, with Broomfield scoring a 179.575 and Niwot scoring a 176.150.
Broomfield Mia Ritchie shone bright with second place in the 5A all-around and an outright win on the beam, as she scored a 9.4 in the event while netting a 37.250 in all four. She padded her stat sheet by placing top five in every event, starting with second in floor (9.55), third in bars (9.1) and fifth in vault (9.2).
It seems she may be well on her way to earning the Daily Camera gymnast of the year for the second straight season. The Eagles also saw top-20 finishes in the all around from Avery Kang (15th, 27.150), Kaia Bachrach (16th, 27.125), Aspen Palillian (19th, 26.050) and Victoria Griffith (20th, 26.000).
Niwot, meanwhile, dominated the 4A competition.
The Cougars enjoyed outright wins in every event but floor as Maeve Flentie cruised to an all-around title with a collective score of 35.825, placing second in beam (9.075), fourth in vault (9.000), fifth in bars (8.675) and fifth in floor (9.075).
Kylee Schlepp took home the regional crown in vault (9.45), Heidi Herbert secured the gold in bars (8.825) and Lilly O'Neill won out in beam (9.225). The Cougar dominance didn't just end in the individual events.
While Flentie won the AA, three more Cougars weren't far behind. O'Neill took home the bronze with a 34.750, followed by Herbert at fifth (34.325) and Isabelle Foster at sixth (34.125).
The 5A team competition will begin at 3:10 p.m. on Thursday, with the 4A competition set to begin at the same time on Friday. Individual finals well be held on Saturday starting at 1:30 p.m.
