Avalanche gymnasts win several individual Xcel State Championships

POCATELLO — The Idaho Xcel State Championships took place in Pocatello over the weekend with Avalanche Gymnastics in Idaho Falls sending seven competitors who brought home a handful of top medals.

“Xcel is the fastest growing competitive program in gymnastics, giving our girls more flexibility in their routines,” said Avalanche Head Coach Cayla Beutler. “These girls did some amazing things at State to finish out all the hard work from this season.”

Avalanche sent four Gold and three Platinum team members to State.

Bailey Webb, a Gold, took second in the all-around with a score of 36.200 along with an individual event state championship on vault (9.125) and floor (9.375).

Grace Redd took third on floor in her age division with a 9.475 and a solid 36.425 all-around. Cecilia Winslow finished second on both vault (8.900) and beam (9.550), earning her a bronze medal finish and 36.825 all-around score.

Addie Jaynes also finished third in her division with a stellar 37.150 all-around in addition to a second place on beam (9.450) and individual bronze on bars (9.275).

Claire O’Neal led the Platinum team with first-place finishes on bars (9.250), beam (9.350), and floor (9.475) for a 37.075 all-around that earned her a state championship at the top spot. Chiara Turner earned a third place finish on beam (9.300) and finished fifth in the all-around (36.850).

For Caimbree Maughan, this State Championship was bittersweet.

“This was her last competition since she’s a senior,” said Cristie Maughan, Caimbree’s mother, adding that her daughter started tumbling at age 7 before getting into competition gymnastics as a sophomore at Hillcrest.

Maughan finished second at State with a 36.650 all-around score. That included third place finishes on bars (9.050) and beam (9.300), plus fourth place on both floor and vault.

“The biggest thing is she started competing when she was older and lots of these girls have been competing for a long time,” said Cristie Maughan. “She’s had a great time and just loves all these girls.”

Caimbree, who turns 18 in May, is planning to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after graduation.