(Brock Laue/CHSAANow.com)
THORNTON — As gifted as many of the Class 5A crews are again in 2016, the state gymnastics meet proved to be a two-horse race in the team competition.
Overland, winners of four of the past seven crowns, was hoping to reclaim their perch atop the mountain. The Trailblazers had the necessary depth to overcome the loss of injured state regulars like McKenna Turbyne (fifth in 2015 all-around competition) and Madie Venegas. Overland was unbeaten entering day one of the state meet at Thornton High School, the deciding evening in the 5A team and individual all-around competitions.
Pomona, meanwhile, was coming off a historic 2015 state meet. They claimed title No. 1 in girls sports for the school by shattering the all-classification record for points with 190.925. Junior Kelsey Boychuk won the all-around championship her first two seasons for the black and scarlet.
Despite a close contest, the Panthers doubled the titles and doubled the fun for the second straight year. The team tally for points was Pomona 187.700 and Overland 185.875, while a different Panther in Brooke Weins claimed the all-around state championship.
After a season marked by injuries to several top competitors, Pomona finally had their entire varsity lineup for last week’s regional meet and for the state championships.
“It was a little closer than last year,” Panther coach Tracey Boychuk said, knowing that Overland and Broomfield (third, 182.575) would challenge. “We’ve had injuries on and off. It’s been one of those up-and-down years. But the girls really wanted it and they fought hard for it.”
Through two of four events, Pomona held a mere 92.55-92.375 advantage over the Trailblazers. Then the vault happened. Tallying a terrific 48.325 for the five competitors, the Panthers started to gain separation on Overland, who still had a sterling 47.1 in the event.
A star-studded group was intact just in time for state — injuries to the likes of Kaylie Berens, who missed a couple of weeks with an ankle injury, and Boychuk, who sprained her foot and missed three weeks — didn’t derail Pomona’s quest for another 5A crown.
But it certainly may have played a role in Boychuk’s pursuit of a third all-around title. Sophomore Weins, the runner-up by a tenth of a point last season (38.825-38.725), finished with a total of 38.925 for the win. Lakewood’s Amber Boll was second at 38.275, while Berens (37.975) and Boychuk (37.775) finished third and fourth.
Weins was first in the uneven bars (9.750) and the balance beam (9.725), while finishing second to Boychuk in the vault (9.875-9.850) and third in floor exercise (9.600). It all added up to an all-around crown, but it didn’t come without some nerves.
“Beam was last and I was freaking out,” Weins said. “I was like, ‘I can’t fall, I can’t fall.’ But I told myself that I’m a beautiful gymnast and that I’m here because I’m good. I felt like I was shaking the whole time, but I stayed on and ended up getting a 9.725.
“I’m glad I could do this with my team. It’s an adrenaline rush. I don’t really know what to feel right now.”
The elder Boychuk, the mother of Kelsey, says the junior was more excited about the team accomplishment than any disappointment about coming up a little short in the all-around. And, she had dealt with a difficult setback with her foot.
“Kelsey and Brooke have been friends and teammates for a long, long time and they are always very happy for each other,” Boychuk said. “They like to see each other do well. Kelsey didn’t have her best meet tonight, but I think now for next year the pressure is off and she can come back and hopefully place high again. But fourth place is still pretty good.”
Ranked No. 1 in 5A in football, Pomona is off to another promising start athletically after winning state crowns in wrestling and boys track during the 2015-16 school year. Yes, times are good for the Panthers. They have now won nine overall state championships in their history and the gymnastics team continues to break new ground on the girls side.
“The school is very excited for us,” Boychuk said. “The only other team to go back-to-back was wrestling (2000, 2001), so it’s nice to be able to talk about our gymnastics team as being the same caliber as our wrestling team. The excitement has kept us going. Pomona is very supportive. The teachers and the students and the parents, it’s an amazing community.”
The gymnastics state championships will resume at Thornton at 4 p.m. on Friday when the 4A team and individual all-around winners will be decided. The top 15 finishers of each event Thursday advanced to Saturday’s individual discipline finals.