Los Alamos High Flyers including Emily Smith, middle front, who won first place at the New Mexico State Level 2 Junior Olympic gymnastics championships March 7 in Albuquerque, becoming the first ever all-around state champion at High Flyers Gymnastics. Smith also claimed the state event championship titles on vault and floor exercise. Three other girls earned honors as event state champions: in separate age divisions Megan Martinez and Valarie Valdez placed first on Level 2 balance beam, and Sofia Enriquez won on Level 3 uneven bars with a score of 9.45. Photo by Don Taylor

SPORTS News:

Twenty-two gymnasts from High Flyers competed over the weekend at the championship meet, which included both Level 2 and Level 3 in age group competition.

In Level 2, Ashley Hammond took second place all-around, with a second place 9.025 finish on floor, third on balance beam, and fourth on both vault and uneven bars. Despite fighting a stomach virus, Elizabeth Merrill competed and finished in fifth place.

Other Level 2 all-around results included:

Anna Kirkland 4^th; Megan Martinez: Bars 3^rd (9.15), All-around 4^th; Kwan Jemu Lopez Moya 5^th; Cammie Pressett 6^th; Ashley Smith 5^th; Aubrianna Telchy 5^th; Valarie Valdez: Vault 3^rd, Bars 3^rd, All-around 4^th

In Level 3, Alexandra Hinckley took fourth all-around, earning fifth on uneven bars with a 9.0.

Other Level 3 competitors included:

Gianna Benelli 8^th; Michelle Berning 7^th; Sarina Borden 9^th; Sofia Enriquez 9^th; Elaina Irving 6^th; Kylie Johnson 7^th; Kira Lorenc 7^th; Hailey McDowell 8^th; Bailee Nasise: Vault 4^th (9.1), All-around 9^th; Jillian Puckett: Bars 6th (9.05), All-around 6^th; Siena Rolfe 7^th

Four additional High Flyers gymnasts competed in the Level 4 state championships March 14 in Albuquerque:

Bella Aguilera 8^th; Brittney Nguyen 9^th; Norissa Valdez 9^th; Sarah Worley 8^th

The state championship meet is the final competition of the year for the gymnasts.