North Thurston Public Schools High Schools Prevail at Area Gymnastics Meet

The joint North Thurston Public Schools team from River Ridge, Timberline, and North Thurston High Schools defeated Rogers High School and local teams from Capital and Olympia High School on Friday January 24, 2020, in a WIAA league gymnastics meet in Dupont. 

North Thurston Public Schools won the overall team category with 157.7 points followed by Olympia in second place at 149.85 points. Rogers High School of Puyallup and Capital placed third and fourth overall as teams competed in the four standard events including vault, balance beam, floor exercise and bars.

Shannon Brigham, head coach for the joint North Thurston team, is excited for her team as they head into their district meets in February. “This is probably one of the most talented teams we have had so far,” stated Brigham. The team has 22 total girls, yet schools will compete individually at sub districts February 5, 6  and 7. 

Addysein VanNess, Madison Tanneberg, Nikki Krambs and Jasmine Shea all placed in the top 10 overall for North Thurston. For Coach Brigham, she hopes these girls continue to improve and score well at Districts and possibly State 2A and 3A meets. “I just want the girls to have fun with their gymnastics and that the girls love what they do.”

Results for individual participants for the “all around” scoring included: 1st Addysein VanNess (NTS- River Ridge); 2nd Kaitlyn Mahoney (Capital); 3rd Madison Tanneberg (NTS Timberline); 4th Savannah Steen (Rogers).

Capital High School hosted the event, led by head coach JLyn Glenn. “We have a small team of just nine girls, but each meet we are getting better. We have a really phenomenal team. They are so supportive of each other. It is like no team I have ever seen,” Glenn remarked. Capital was led by Junior Kaitlyn Mahoney who placed first in the vault with a score of 9.35.

Olympia High School brought 22 girls to the meet. Coach Maggie O’Connor loves the mix of upper and lower classman on her team. “We have a little more experience under our belt this year, with some strong freshman on our team. I hope to take at least five girls to State this year,” O’Connor proclaimed. Olympia was led by strong scores from junior, Julianne Glenn and freshman Kat Castro.

WIAA state gymnastics will be held February 20-22, 2020 at Sammamish High School.