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WORLAND — The Worland gymnastics team, the 307 Twisters, competed with over 300 other gymnasts last weekend at the state meet in Gillette, which resulted in the best outing to-date for the program, including a regional qualifier, Hailee Hunter.

To start with all 15 girls on the team qualified for the state meet, unfortunately one could not compete at state due to an injury. To qualify for the state a gymnast needs to have placed at a prior meet by scoring 30 or above. Even down one gymnast the team podiumed all 14 girls and as one of the smaller teams in the state this is a tremendous accomplishment.

At the state meet, as well as other meets, the competitors are separated into levels, set by the Junior Olympics National program, ranging from 1-10. Levels 1-5 run compulsory routines in the beams, bars, vault and floor. To move to the next level, a gymnast first needs to meet the level’s age requirement then show proficiency in those events.

First-place finisher

For levels 6-10 gymnasts are allowed to create their own routines within the required elements of the Junior Olympics National Program.

Another first for the 307 Twisters was having Hailee Hunter, a level 7, place first overall at state. At level 7 is where the athletes can compete at the regional events, because of her first overall finish Hunter will be competing at the regional event in Little Rock, Arkansas, on April 22.

At the regional event Wyoming competitors compete in Region 3 along with Texas, Colorado, Kansas, Arkansas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. As you can imagine Texas and its population of 25 million tends to dominate this region but that doesn’t deter coach Donna Hunter. Who has the utmost faith in her daughter and believes she can compete among the best.

History

This is the ninth year for the 307 Twisters and seventh year competing. In their inaugural year the program had three gymnasts and for a few years afterwards would only have 3-5 girls out. Then one year as coach Hunter puts it, “it exploded and we had 15-16 girls join the team and we’ve stayed around those numbers ever since.”

While the team is made up of girls from Worland, there are also girls from Thermopolis, Greybull and Basin. The competitive season has them in six meets a year, including one that is invitation only in Spearfish, South Dakota, plus the state event. There are four coaches on staff with Hunter, Meghan Stiffney, Alexis Kalberer, Charles Watkins and Shannon Christian.

There’s also a booster club run by parents of the kids. Like any booster club, their focus is to think up of ways to fundraise the team in their travels. Currently the booster club’s focus is raising money for new balance beams and bars by hosting an ice cream social and exhibition put on by the girls on May 14. Not only will the new bars and beams be a benefit to the Twisters in their practices, it will also allow them to host a meet here in Worland for the very first time.

The ultimate goal for the booster club would be one day to expand their practice gym at the Worland Community Center Complex or find a larger space for the girls. That’s not to say they aren’t grateful for all that Steve Hunt has done for them at the community center.

While the future looks bright for the 307 Twisters, the best part for the coaches was seeing all the hard work and hustle by the girls pay off. As coach Hunter puts it, “Watching the girls walk around with the medals clinking around their necks with the biggest smiles, was just amazing.”

The results from the state meet are as follows.

Level 2

Jenna McIntosh -1st all-around

Ivey Roberts- 1st in beam

Jordyn Nielson- 1st in floor

Belle Starbuck- 7th in beam

Level 3

Rihan Rosario- 1st in uneven bars

Dakota Cervantes- 1st in vault

Jasmine Salcido- 3rd in vault

Samantha Keller- 1st in floor

Allysa Taylor- 8th in uneven bars

Nicole Harrington- 2nd in vault

Jaden Earl- 7th in vault

Level 4

Joelle Hill – 9th in floor

Trinity Christian- 8th in beam

Level 7

Hailee Hunter- 1st all-around