Wenatchee's SPORT Gymnastics' Ella Reynolds poses during her floor routine while competing at the 2024 Washington Xcel State Championships at the Hapo Center in Pasco. She scored a 9.675 to earn her fifth consecutive state title on floor. When the event ended on April 7, SPORT won 31 event-specific, 11 all-around, and two team state championships. She earned a No. 3 national ranking for floor after placing first in the beam (9.425) and floor (9.9) at the Region 2 Xcel Championships at Century Link Arena in Boise, Idaho last weekend.
Wenatchee's SPORT Gymnastics' Parker Crawford-Moehnert poses during the state championships. She earned the best all-around score (38.525) at the event.
Wenatchee's SPORT Gymnastics' Ella Reynolds poses during her floor routine while competing at the 2024 Washington Xcel State Championships at the Hapo Center in Pasco. She scored a 9.675 to earn her fifth consecutive state title on floor. When the event ended on April 7, SPORT won 31 event-specific, 11 all-around, and two team state championships. She earned a No. 3 national ranking for floor after placing first in the beam (9.425) and floor (9.9) at the Region 2 Xcel Championships at Century Link Arena in Boise, Idaho last weekend.
Provided photo/Adam Lu Photography
BOISE, Idaho — By the time the 2024 Washington Xcel State Championships were through on April 7, the Hapo Center in Pasco had heard the name of a small gymnastics club from Wenatchee echo through the venue enough times that it likely needed a fresh coat of paint.
Hosted by Garland’s Gymnastics, the event is the de facto state championship for club gymnastics in Washington. Dozens of clubs competed for individual and team-based awards at different levels and divisions and quite often — when that milestone was finally reached — the recipient was a member of Wenatchee’s SPORT Gymnastics club.
SPORT produced 31 event-specific, 11 all-around, and two team (Gold and Silver) state champions. They were only one of two clubs to win two team titles. Their Bronze team (5 to 7-year-olds) also placed sixth.
Team championships are evaluated by accumulating the top three scores from each event for each team.
Wenatchee's SPORT Gymnastics' Parker Crawford-Moehnert poses during the state championships. She earned the best all-around score (38.525) at the event.
Provided photo/Adam Lu Photography
The 11 all-arounders
Of the 11 gymnasts crowned all-around state champions, the top six scores were all SPORT gymnasts with another cracking the top 10.
This included Parker Crawford-Moehnert, 11, who earned an all-around score of 38.525 in the Gold division after scoring 9.6 on the beam, 9.775 on the floor, 9.5 for the vault, and 9.6 on the bars. It was the highest overall score earned at state.
“She did so good,” said SPORT head coach Taryn Spadoni. “She loves the crowd — having extra eyes lights her up. She loves to perform, that definitely gives her an edge.”
The Gold team placed first out of 49 clubs with an accumulative score of 115.8. The Gold gymnasts also included Bailey Gatlin (beam: 9.625, floor: 9.8), Drew Joseph (floor: 9.5), and Annyka Fischer.
Bailey Gatlin
Provided photo/ Adam Lu Photography
They are the only Washington state Gold-level team ranked in the nation’s top 100 for all-round team scores.
The Silver team placed first out of 51 teams with an accumulative score of 115.125. The Silver gymnasts also included Jojo Gillenwater (floor: 9.225), Brooklyn Mejia, Lila Hackenmiller, Willa Walden, and Ruby Beutler.
Kinzly Waunch
Provided photo/ Adam Lu Photography
The Bronze team placed sixth out of 38 teams with an accumulative score of 113.325. The Bronze gymnasts also included Emma Herrera (beam: 9.5, floor 9.525), Madison Jewett (beam: 9.475), Isla Fritz (floor: 9.3), Isabella Webb (floor: 9.1), Callie Kinzel, Ellie Bezanson, Serenity Phillips, Kenzi Coggins, Braylynn Portch, and Kinzly Waunch.
Of all the state results, Garcia and Gatlin were two of the five to receive a floor score of 9.8, and Reno was one of only five to score a 9.8 on the bars.
“The girls killed it all year,” Spadoni said. “They did so well and worked so hard I’ve lost count of how many times we’ve placed first — it’s really incredible.”
Ella’s swan song
Ella Reynolds has been a member of SPORT for the past 10 years. In that time she has won with her floor routine on 35 occasions — placing first at every competition three years running. At state, she scored a 9.675 at the Diamond level — her fifth consecutive floor state championship.
She was a beam champion 26 times and won state all-around titles in 2017, 2019 and 2023. Eight of her scores land within the top 100 in the nation.
“Judges, coaches, and other gymnasts are in awe of how beautifully she dances on floor and with no ballet training,” Spadoni said. “Without a doubt, she has the most beautiful dance on floor in the state. She is also an incredible gymnastics teacher. She is retiring and going off to college next year. We will miss her terribly.”
Alexa Boyce
Provided photo/Adam Lu Photography
Regionals
Reynolds’ performance and those of her teammates Parker Crawford-Moehnert, Alexa Boyce, Mak Rediger, Taliah Garcia, Bailey Gatlin, and Annyka Fischer qualified them for the 2024 Region 2 Xcel Championships at Century Link Arena in Boise, Idaho last weekend.
Mak Rediger
Provided photo/ Adam Lu Photography
Region 2 includes the states of Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, and Hawaii.
Reynolds placed first in the beam (9.425) and floor (9.9), earning the highest floor score at the Diamond level. That performance ranked her No. 3 in the nation on floor.
Other SPORT members ranked nationally are Reno at 42nd on floor after earning a 9.9 (the 5th highest in the nation) and Herrera at 62nd on beam after scoring a 9.9 (the 4th highest nationally).
“It’s really hard to get ranked nationally,” Spadoni said.
Taliah Garcia
Provided photo/ Adam Lu Photography
Garcia placed first in the bars (9.675), beam (9.625), and floor (9.8) to become the regional all-around champion (38.5) at the Gold level. Boyce joined her as a regional all-around champion (38.4) after her performances in the bars (9.65), beam (9.675), and floor (9.8).
Rediger was a regional bronze all-around medalist (38.35) with her vault (9.625) execution. Gatlin was a regional silver all-around medalist (37.9) with her efforts in the vault (9.575) and floor (9.675). Fischer was another regional silver all-around medalist (37.65) after the beam (9.575), and Crawford-Moehnert executed in the beam (9.55) and floor (9.7).
Too many to count
As staggering as these accolades are, and despite the club’s small size, it’s also not unusual for SPORT. The club trains around 32 athletes as compared to some clubs with over 100 members. But since the club’s founding in 2001, the owners, the operators, the head coaches, and the mother-daughter duo of Sue Harris and Taryn Spadoni have produced a disproportionate amount of successful gymnasts.
In total, around 18 state titles are attached to their club and their talented athletes. One of their most productive years was in 2022 when they were still rebuilding after the pandemic they surprised many and themselves after winning the Silver, Gold, and Platinum team state championships and placing third in Bronze.
It’s a full-time job for both. They’ve cultivated an approach that always has them finding new angles, methods, and adjustments to their curriculum, never resting on the same routine but evolving with the sport.
“It keeps us interested,” Spadoni said. “We love it. We’re always looking to improve the experience. Every year is different otherwise it could get monotonous.”
The accolades and the athletes speak for themselves.
“They’re really driven,” she added. “They show up for practice and are really consistent with consistent coaching. We really try to boost their confidence so competitions are fun.”
You can often see coaches sporting tutus and tiaras to help relax the group, and facilitate a lighthearted, fun approach until it’s time to compete — that’s when they turn it on.
Spadoni saw this tactic spread through the group while they waited for their turn on the balance beam at state. Instead of pacing and chattering teeth they pulled out cards and played games, subverting the worry and stress of the moment so they could focus all their energy on the performance when the time called for it.
“It was a great moment for me as a coach,” Spadoni said. “They turn it on to compete. They’re super focused and in the zone. It tells me we prepared them and that they know we got this.”
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