Eudy standing tall at regional

Allison Eudy's bar routine came off without a hitch.

Well, almost.

"I guess I'm taller than I thought," said Eudy while pointing to a mat burn on her knee, which she picked up during her performance.

"Pretty big (penalty) points there."

Outside of that, the 18-year-old Flathead Gymnastics Academy team member was all smiles. She tied for 13th place in the bars Friday afternoon at the Region 2 USA Gymnastics Championships at Whitefish High School.

The senior from Flathead High school posted a score of 8.85 in Level 8 Senior C. It was the only event she qualified in.

"It was pretty good," said Eudy of her showing.

"I stayed on."

Jessica Waiss of Cascade Elite scored 9.6 to win bars. Waiss also finished first in beam, 9.275, and topped the all-around with a 37.025 total.

This marked Eudy's second regional appearance, and her final one. She competed two years ago in Hawaii.

"I didn't have a (certain) score I was shooting for," she said.

"Every meet you try and find one thing to work on and make it better."

For this meet, she wanted to improve her cast (move) on the high bar.

"It was a lot better," she said.

There were 23 gymnasts competing in Eudy's division including Janet Cabrera of Billings Gymnastics. She finished seventh in the all-around with a 35.700 score. Her best showing was in vault, third place, and in bars, where she picked up a fourth.

Over 400 gymnasts from six states - Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington - are competing in the Region 2 event.

Eudy said her routine "went by really fast.

Judging bars was FGA coach Jeanine Henneford.

"It's fun having a coach for a judge," said Eudy.

"She pretty much judges me at every meet. She's really good, a nationally recognized judge. She won't give me extra points just because she likes me."

Eudy had to wait, however, as the competition opened with the floor exercise before moving to vault and then bars.

"The hardest part was just sitting there watching," she said.

"You want to be out there doing some gymnastics. But it's really exciting to see all the really good gymnasts."

Eudy will now work the event on the final two days. She will help gymnasts with their music during the floor exercise, time beam routines and punch in scores.

"I'm looking forward to it," she said.

"It gives me a chance to watch. I look for new tricks to learn. I'm done competing, but I still have a lot to do."

The competition continues today with Level 10 at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. A Level 8 team competition is scheduled for 5:30.

Action winds up Sunday with Level 9 at 8 a.m. and noon.

The Level 9 winners advance to Westerns in St. Louis while Level 10 winners head for Nationals in Ontario, Calif.

Both events are next month.

A Level 7 Invitational follows the regional on Sunday at 4 p.m. Competing in that event are FGA's Amanda Weigand and Andrea Ekegren.

Friday's Results

Top 5 All-Around

Scores (vault, bars, beam, floor = all-around)

Top Event Scores in Bold

Session 1

Level 8 Junior A

41 Entrants

1. Jamie Radermacher, Metro Gymnastics (9.475, 9.175, 9.6, 9.475 = 37.725). 2. Tiara Rapp, HITS (9.0, 9.375, 9.55, 9.5 = 37.425). 3. Paisley Peterson, Auburn Gymnastics (8.975, 9.45, 9.525, 9.425 = 37.375). 4. Sarah Wu, Naydenov Gymnastics (9.25, 9.625, 8.9, 9.55 = 37.325). 5. Katherine Prouty, Metro Gymnastics (9.375, 9.55, 9.325, 9.0 = 37.250).

Level 8 Senior B

22 Entrants

1. Alison Fent, Grace Gymnastics (8.6, 9.5, 9.475, 9.250 = 36.825). 2. Trang Vu, Leading Edge (9.25, 8.875, 9.125, 9.3 = 36.550). 3. Holly Roush, Kid Spirit (9.125, 9.05, 9.225, 9.15 = 36.550). 4. Ashley Drummond, Arctic Gymnastics (9.225, 9.225, 8.95, 9.125 = 36.525). 5. Emilia Nellenbach, Puget Sound (9.025, 9.4, 9.05, 9.0 = 36.475).

Session 2

Level 8 Junior C

39 Entrants

1. Kayla Shira, Auburn Gymnastics (9.1, 9.625, 9.35, 9.4 = 37.475). 2. Katya Finta, Northwest Gymnastics (9.225, 9.275, 9.375, 9.4 = 37.275). 3. Alexandria Morton, Auburn Gymnastics (9.35, 9.575, 9.025, 9.3 = 37.250). 4. Shawna Kelly, Northshore (9.4, 9.675, 9.125, 9.0 = 37.200). 5. Briana McKenney, Auburn Gymnastics (9.175, 9.65, 9.475, 8.775 = 37.075).

Level 8 Senior C

23 Entrants

1. Jessica Waiss, Cascade Elite (9.025, 9.6, 9.275, 9.125 = 37.025). 2. Danielle Kinnear, Sunburst (9.250, 8.925, 9.25, 9.275 = 36.700). 3. Chailee Friant, Gym Express (9.475, 9.1, 8.675, 9.4 = 36.650). 4. Danielle Phelps, Gold Star Gymnastics (9.55, 9.425, 8.35, 9.225 = 36.550). 5. Lindsay Hernandez, Leading Edge (8.9, 8.925, 9.25, 8.975 = 36.050).

Session 3

Results not available