Kent-Meridian’s Nora Keith shoots for a state title

Her ascension has been gradual. But make no mistake, Kent-Meridian gymnast Nora Keith is certainly on her way up.

And she wants to keep it that way this winter.

A three-time state participant, the 5-foot-1, 17-year-old Royal has big aspirations this season, and understandably so. Keith has done just about everything on the vault at the state level. She took 10th as a freshman, improved three spots to seventh as a sophomore and brought home an impressive third-place finish last winter as a junior.

And now?

Keith wants the gold.

“It would mean the world to me (to win the state title),” Keith said. “I have worked so hard all four years. There just always seems to be something in the way. I am hoping this is finally my year.”

If the pint-sized Royal can pull off the feat, she would become Kent-Meridian’s first state champion in the sport since 1987, when Sue Phinney captured the vault title.

A year earlier, Suanne Wales won the all-around title along with the bars and floor exercise, a performance that helped K-M bring home the team crown. Since that run more than 20 years ago, Kent-Meridian hasn’t seen many gymnasts of Keith’s caliber.

“She’s a leader academically and athletically. She’s just a great kid,” said Kent-Meridian coach Rachel Watanabe. “I wish I could have a whole team of kids like her.”

The possibility of winning a state title has crossed Keith’s mind a time or two as well.

“I’ve thought about it on countless occasions. It would really be the cherry on top of my high school career,” she said.

It has been a career marked by success, but also leadership. This winter, Keith is the lone senior on a young Royal team. As such, she does nearly as much coaching these days as she does tumbles, turns, twists and flips.

Ultimately, it will be the final turn and twist that pushes her ascension to an all-time high.

It’s a level Watanabe wouldn’t be surprised to see Keith reach.

“I think she got a taste of what first place might feel like last year,” Watanabe said. “You never know what every team is going to bring at state. You have to make sure you’re up to the competition value. You have to have a ‘wow’ factor. I think she has the potential to (win state) on vault this year. She’s got the drive to get it.”

Kentlake aims to break 160-point barrier

They’ve got the numbers. Plenty of talent, too.

But there’s still considerable work ahead for the Kentlake High gymnastics team en route to defending its South Puget Sound League North Division crown.

Considerable road blocks, too.

The Falcons, coming off the best season in the school’s history that included an unblemished 19-0 record and a second-place finish at the Class 4A state meet, might have the most potential of any team in this year’s revamped SPSL North. However, to realize that potential, the Falcons are going to have to work through some early season adversity.

During the first week of the season, Kentlake lost standout and state veteran Becca Peterson to a broken right ankle. Peterson was injured during an awkward land.

“It wasn’t anything new or spectacular,” said Kentlake coach Marla Boyd. “She just landed hard and a little bit crooked on that right ankle.

“We’re all bummed, including her. But the most important thing is that she’s OK.”

The injury put dent into the Kentlake lineup, which graduated stars Brianne Gould and Kayla Shira, last year’s Class 4A all-around state champion. Despite being down three state competitors, talent remains in abundance for the Falcons. Leading the way is junior Lynnsey Thielman, who took seventh at state on the balance beam two years ago and who was an integral part of last season’s Falcon squad. Also back in fold are Katie Steckler, Brenna Bickel and Jenae Long, all of whom saw considerable action with the varsity last season. Steckler took 34th at state last year in the all-around.

All four of the girls have what it takes to advance to this year’s state meet, Boyd said. The focus for now, however, revolves around improvement.

The Falcons also should get a boost from freshman Melissa Albert, who already has demonstrated a strong floor and vault routine.

All that talent aside, however, couldn’t help Kentlake overcome Jefferson in the season opener. The Raiders nipped the Falcons 156.5-152.

“They weren’t very happy that they didn’t win their first meet. I think that they were getting a little complacent with their workouts,” Boyd said. “I don’t think their performance was anywhere near where their potential is. Everything is just going to depend on how they train.”

If all breaks right, the Falcons should be cracking the 160-point barrier before too long, which would put them back in contention for a league crown.

“We want to get into the 160s and the girls would like to contend for the division, but they have a lot of work in front of them to do that,” Boyd said. “Right now, We’re just trying to increase our level of difficulty and realize that every point counts.”

Kentwood coach Bob Fenton returns

He’s back.

After assisting for several years, Kentwood gymnastics coach Bob Fenton is returning to a familiar role. Fenton, who guided the Conquerors to Class 4A state titles in 2001 and 2002 and who is a member of the Washington State Gym Coaches Association Hall of Fame, is returning to the helm of the program he helped reach prominence.

Fenton, who guided the Conquerors from 1997-2002, is taking over for Anne Diaz, who stepped down after last season.

“I never went away,” jokes Fenton about the minor role change. “I guess they couldn’t find a coach, so said I’d do it.”

Kentwood graduated state veteran Jamie Larson and standout Alex Perez, but certainly have the numbers available to find a couple key gymnasts to fill the voids. In fact, Fenton is keeping 30 gymnasts on this year’s roster, a number that is relatively high for the sport.

“That’s a lot of kids to keep, it really is,” Fenton said. “But, you want to develop them for the future.”

That future likely will consist of freshman Megan Lee, who’s shown a solid all-around ability thus far.

“She could be in the top 15 by the end of the season,” Fenton noted.

Meanwhile, the Conquerors have a solid selection of juniors and seniors from which to choose as well, including: juniors Jordan Johnson (all-around), Alana Davis (vault, bars), Alison Wattles (all-around), Rainee Tervol (bar, vault) along with seniors Hannah Swanson (all-around), Bonnie Chow (floor, vault) and Carolina Garces (all-around).

Kentwood lost its opener to Kentridge and Tahoma, registering 141.4 points, but reaching 150 is a possibility — and a goal — the coach said.

“As long as they stay with it, we can make something out of it,” Fenton noted.

SPSL NORTH AT A GLANCE

• FAVORITES: Jefferson, Beamer.

• CONTENDERS: KL, Kentridge, Tahoma.

• SLEEPER: Federal Way.

• LEAGUE OUTLOOK: Kentlake cruised to last year’s title, going 19-0 for the season and finishing second at state, but the Falcons will be hard pressed to repeat as standouts Brianne Gould and Kayla Shira graduated while junior state veteran Becca Peterson broke her ankle last week. The Falcons are still plenty deep to challenge, but as things stood entering Wednesday night’s slate of SPSL North meets, Beamer was the frontrunner. Beamer served up 166.85 points in its first meet of the season, knocking off Federal Way (148.55), Decatur (138.9) and North Thurston (132.1). Kentlake has what it takes to get into the 160s as does Kentridge and Jefferson, but getting well beyond that and catching Beamer in the process will be a tall order. … As is the case in many sports, the SPSL North was shuffled up in gymnastics this season and includes the four schools from both the Kent and Federal Way School Districts along with Tahoma. … Kentwood enjoyed a big turnout this winter and will be keeping 30 gymnasts on its roster. … Kent-Meridian’s Nora Keith is the North Division’s top-returning gymnast as she took third in the vault last year. Keith is the lone senior on a Royal team that includes 13 total gymnasts. … With Beth Vanden Heuvel, McKenzie Johnson and Amelia Carpenter back in fold, Kentridge returns enough talent to finish among the top three in the North.

NORTH AVERAGES

TEAM SCORE

1. Jefferson 160.175

2. Beamer 156.200

3. Kentlake 155.250

4. Kentridge 152.350

5. Tahoma 151.050

6. Federal Way 146.875

7. Decatur 141.800

8. Kent-Meridian 141.750

9. Kentwood 141.150