Little things produced big results for the Camas gymnastics team on Saturday.
Led by standout performances by Maya Richardson and Olivia Aguirre, the Papermakers beat out Union for another 4A team title at the district meet at Naydenov Gymnastics.
“They have been really intentional and working hard on details and their landings and just showing up for everyone,” Camas coach Amy Railsback said. “They want to show up as a team.”
Winning district titles is nothing new for Camas gymnastics. But after losing to Union earlier in the season, the Papermakers entered Saturday as a bit of an underdog.
“We’ve had kind of a rough season,” Aguirre said. “But we’ve been pushing really hard in practice, just to push forward for our team.”
Richardson said the Papermakers were a little nervous about their chances coming into Saturday’s meet.
“We just remembered that whatever happens happens, and we’d be happy for everyone,” Richardson said. “Just focus on the little things, and just do our best.”
Richardson won the bars and balance beam en route to earning the all-around title.
“I was honestly really surprised,” Richardson said. “I’m just like really happy because all the hard work I’ve been putting in has been paying off.”
Railsback said: “This was probably her best meet, and she hit when she needed to hit. … That’s the goal — to peak at the end of the year.”
Aguirre took titles on the vault and floor exercise as Camas finished with 174.375 points to Union’s 169.225.
Railsback said the win took the entire team.
“It’s very much a team sport,” Railsback said. “It’s not about them individually. It’s about them showing up and rising up, each of them.”
Richardson won the all-around with a score of 36.625, edging out Gabriella Howard of Union (36.175). Aguirre (35.725) was third, followed by Carly Christ of Union (35.425). Howard and Christ advance as all-around entries, while Camas secured a bi-district berth for the entire team.
“That is such a huge blessing, to be able to do that,” Railsback said of advancing the team. “Union is amazing. They have a great team, too. So it’s a big accomplishment. There’s a lot of good gymnastics down here. It’s been neck-and-neck all season.”
