U-Hi junior triumphs

Kayla McGahey got better.

The University junior was sick in bed earlier this week, missing two days of practice with a sinus infection. Stay home, her coach told her. Get better. You’re going to qualify for the regional meet with no problems.

It proved to be true.

McGahey captured all-around honors and easily won the uneven bars Friday night at Mead in the District 8 4A gymnastics tournament.

Mead, the undefeated Greater Spokane League champion, won the district title, but not by as large a margin as the Panthers enjoyed during the regular season. Kaila Evenoff, the defending district all-around champion, suffered an elbow injury at a meet in Issaquah and was unable to compete – ending her senior season short of the state tournament.

The Panthers scored 173.850 team points. Shadle Park finished second with 171.05 points. University was third at 169.375 and Central Valley fourth at 168.2. The Bears edged out Ferris, which was fifth at 167.55.

The top four teams qualify for the regional tournament, which gets under way next Saturday at 1 p.m. at Central Valley. The top three all-around finishers who were not part of a qualifying team earn entry into the regional tournament, as do the top seven finishers per event who did not qualify as a team or an all-around.

Central Valley’s Maya Morgan was second all-around, with Ferris’ Ashley DeCataldo and Lindsey Haney third and fourth, respectively.

McGahey posted a score of 9.25 to win the uneven bars and was the only competitor to score more than nine points.

Tracy Duncan and Karen Renner, co-head coaches at University, were named the GSL coaches of the year.