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AURORA – Overland and Roosevelt proudly emerged as champions in their respective categories at the highly competitive Overland Regional Gymnastics Championships held Thursday night at Overland High School. Overland dominated the 5A leaderboard with an impressive team score of 181.325, while Roosevelt secured the 4A title, finishing strong with a score of 174.350.
5A RECAP
Overland clinched the 5A regional championship with a notable team score of 181.325, significantly surpassing the competition. Pomona followed closely in second place with a commendable score of 177.475, while Cherry Creek High School finished in third with 170.350. Heritage secured fourth place with 168.600, and Rock Canyon rounded out the top five with a score of 162.950.
In an impressive individual performance, Overland’s Ainsley Renner earned the coveted gold medal in the all-around competition, achieving an outstanding score of 36.825. Pomona’s Addy Brodie finished in a close second with a score of 36.150, while Cherry Creek’s Lauren Becker captured third place with a score of 35.925. Pomona’s Averie Hull placed fourth with a score of 35.575, and Rock Canyon’s Callista Larson wrapped up the top five with 34.900.
Renner showcased her exceptional skills by finishing among the top five in three individual events: she secured second on the floor exercise with a score of 9.550, tied for second on beam with a score of 9.250, and claimed third on vault with 9.25. Meanwhile, Brodie shone on floor, achieving first place with an impressive score of 9.650. Overland’s Audrey Cox triumphed on bars as the champion, scoring 9.18, while Pomona’s Lauren Murphy excelled on beam, earning a gold medal with a score of 9.425. Rock Canyon’s Callista Larson took the victory on vault with an impressive score of 9.58.
In the floor event, Heritage’s Abby Nichols took a strong third place with a score of 9.525, followed closely by Overland’s Maia Howell, who scored 9.350, and Ryann Walline with a score of 9.300.
In addition to winning floor and securing the runner-up position in the individual all-around, Brodie also finished second to Cox on bars with a score of 9.13. Overland’s Katie Hofer placed third on bars, achieving a score of 9.03, while Hull secured fourth with 8.95 and Overland’s Abby Mess completed the top five with 8.85.
Hull continued her successful run with a second-place finish on beam, scoring 9.250, matching Renner’s score. Howell and Becker each tied for fourth on the beam with scores of 9.175. On vault, Pomona’s Kelle (Juju) Hickam secured a second-place finish with a score of 9.28, while Becker finished fourth with 9.23, and Overland’s Ali Padgett closed fifth with a score of 9.15 points.
4A RECAP
Roosevelt boldly captured the 4A team title with an impressive score of 174.350, showcasing their talent and determination. Evergreen performed admirably to finish in second place with a score of 173.225, while Northfield secured third with a score of 165.250. Fort Morgan and Denver South finished fourth and fifth, with scores of 158.000 and 154.000 respectively.
Roosevelt’s Alea Piddington exhibited remarkable versatility and strength throughout the competition, finishing in the top two in three individual events, ultimately winning the individual all-around title with a score of 36.100. She claimed victory on vault with a score of 9.35, finished second on bars with 9.03, and matched her winning vault score on floor as well, tying for the second place.
Evergreen’s Alivia Martin demonstrated her own mastery of the sport, taking second in the individual all-around with a score of 35.375. Fort Morgan’s Michelle Headley trailed closely behind Martin, securing third with 35.275 points, while Roosevelt’s Paige Garguilo took fourth with a score of 34.950 and Northfield’s Ocean Pierce rounded out the top five with 34.800.
Among the individual champions, Evergreen’s Seeley Beecher shone brightly on bars, capturing first place with a score of 9.40. Teammate Payton Sullivan won the beam event with a score of 8.975, while Makaylee Meyer led her team to dominate the floor, winning the event with a score of 9.38. Meyer’s teammates Piddington and Paige Garguilo finished tied for second on the floor with scores of 9.35, and Liviana White followed closely in fourth with a score of 9.20. Evergreen’s Martin secured the fifth spot with a score of 9.15.
In a dominant showing on beam, Evergreen swept the top four finishes, with teammates Meghan Diaz Torba and Ailish Ocasek tying for second alongside Sullivan, each scoring 8.800. Martin also performed excellently, finishing fourth with a score of 8.775, while Fort Morgan’s Headley rounded out the top five with a score of 8.725.
Headley also showcased her talent by taking second on vault with a score of 9.30 and finishing fourth on bars with 8.58. Northfield’s Ocean Pierce claimed third on vault, scoring 9.23, as Evergreen’s Reese Kormylo followed in fourth with a score of 9.10, while teammate Martin finished fifth with a score of 9.08.
Evergreen’s Keara Palaia took third on bars with a score of 8.60, while classmate Sophie Ramirez secured fifth place with a score of 8.50.
**Interview with Alea Piddington – Individual All-Around Champion at the 4A Overland Regional Gymnastics Championships**
**Interviewer:** Congratulations on your fantastic performance, Alea! Roosevelt’s achievement in clinching the 4A team title must be exhilarating. How does it feel to be part of such a strong team?
**Alea Piddington:** Thank you so much! It feels incredible to be part of a team that works so hard together. We really pushed each other during practice, and it’s amazing to see that effort pay off in a competition like this.
**Interviewer:** You won the individual all-around title as well. What does that victory represent for you?
**Alea Piddington:** Winning the all-around title means a lot to me. It’s validation for all the hours I’ve put into training. Each event is a chance to showcase my skills, and to come out on top in the all-around is such a rewarding feeling.
**Interviewer:** You performed exceptionally well on vault, scoring 9.35. Can you walk us through your routine and what makes your vault unique?
**Alea Piddington:** My vault routine is really important to me. I focus on technique and power, especially on the takeoff. I incorporate a couple of challenging elements that I’ve worked hard to master. It was a relief to see it come together perfectly in the competition.
**Interviewer:** You finished second on bars too. How do you manage to stay consistent across multiple events?
**Alea Piddington:** Consistency comes down to practice and mental focus. I try to visualize my routines and keep a positive mindset. Each event is different, but I rely on the same preparation techniques—warm-ups, stretching, and reminders to trust my training.
**Interviewer:** Looking ahead, what are your goals for the rest of the season?
**Alea Piddington:** My immediate goal is to keep improving and stay healthy. I want to be ready for the state championships, and ultimately, I dream of competing at a higher level in gymnastics. Each meet is another opportunity to grow.
**Interviewer:** Lastly, how do you feel about the support from your fans and the community?
**Alea Piddington:** The support from our fans has been phenomenal! Hearing them cheer us on really motivates us and makes the victory even sweeter. We couldn’t have done it without them!
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Alea, and congratulations once again on your achievements. We wish you the best of luck for the rest of the season!
**Alea Piddington:** Thank you! I really appreciate it!
