Gymnastics: First for Atwell, last for Duran

Heritage freshman wins first title; Bay star goes out on top

TACOMA — Taisha Duran did it again Saturday, but for the last time.

Britni Atwell hopes to come back for more.

Duran, a senior from Hudson’s Bay, won her third consecutive Class 3A/2A vault championship at the state gymnastics meet. She also placed in the other three events, as well.

Atwell, meanwhile, made history for her school. The Heritage freshman won the Class 4A vault title and shared the championship with her floor routine, becoming the first from her program to win a state title.

“I love my school,” Atwell said. “When my coach told me (about being the first), I almost started crying.”

Duran was emotional, too.

“My last year. This was so exciting,” she said. “I ended up winning the all-around (Friday), taking the vault again, and placing in all four events. That’s just the most amazing feeling ever.”

Duran took a big step on her landing during the first vault, then gave herself a pep talk before her final attempt. She stuck it for a 9.7.

“I didn’t want to jump for joy, but inside I was screaming,” Duran said. “I didn’t think anyone would beat a 9.7. If they did, I’d go up to them, shake their hand, and tell them I worship them.”

No one topped it.

Duran also finished fourth on the beam, sixth on the bars, and tied for sixth on the floor.

Atwell said this is only the beginning for her. She expects to be back to state, to finals, to the top of the podium.

“I want to follow Taisha, and take vault every year,” Atwell said.

Perhaps even the floor, too.

She scored a 9.675 on her routine, a score that was matched by Hailey Wells and Mary McIntosh, both of Woodinville.

“It’s still first,” Atwell correctly pointed out.

Later, she got an event all to herself, also scoring a 9.675 with her vault. She said she was pleasantly surprised with her score.

And she was thrilled at the thought of being a double state champion.

“It feels really good, especially for being a freshman,” she said.

Event finals had a different feel this year than in the past. Meet officials allowed for eight finalists in the 4A meet and 16 in the 3A/2A, but then only awarded honors to the top four and top eight. Previously, athletes who made the finals always earned medals.

This year, they had to earn the medals on Saturday.

Columbia River’s Jennifer DeBellis, the defending 3A champion on the floor, came close to getting another. The final competitor of the entire meet, she scored a 9.65, finishing second to the 9.675 from Emily Lopez of Bellevue.

“If you think about the bent knees that could have made it a 9.7, it’s really painful,” DeBellis said. “But I’m also really happy.”

Teammate Jordan Hess was third on the bars. She said the day was extra special because the rest of the Chieftains were there to support her and DeBellis. All together, the Chieftains already had a strong season, finishing second in team competition Friday.

“We had our whole team here cheering for us. We wouldn’t be here without them,” Hess said. “There was no pressure. That’s the best part.”

Amy Siebenthaler, a junior from Camas and the defending state champion on beam, did not qualify for the beam finals. Instead, she placed on the vault (fourth) for the first time and the floor (tied for sixth) for the third time in her career.

“I was a little upset I didn’t make it on beam,” Siebenthaler said. “But making it on vault was a great addition to my state experience.”

Atwell, DeBellis, Hess, and Siebenthaler all hope to return to state again next year.

For Duran, her high school career is complete.

She left Tacoma, and leaves high school gymnastics, with another championship.