Submitted photo – From left to right, Myiah Punch, Addie Bellermann, Aubrey Dalton, Maya Dalton, and Kaile’a Townsend, pictured at the recent Storybook Classic tournament.

The Redwood Coast Gymnastics team is gearing up for its biggest tournament of the season.

Next week, the young gymnasts will travel to Santa Rosa for the 2025 state championships, and they will carry some momentum into the big tourney after a strong showing at the recent Storybook Classic in Petaluma.

In fact, 10 off the 13 team gymnasts who made the trip achieved personal best all-around scores at their current levels.

The Storybook Classic was held on Oct. 25 and 26 and is an annual tournament known for its fairytale theme where coaches, judges, and officials don costumes.

In the Level 5 competition, Redwood Coast’s Momo Baxter broke the 34.00 all-around mark for the first time.

The highlight of her day was the debut of a new back handspring on the balance beam, which resulted in her highest beam score to date.

Baxter also impressed on the uneven bars, as well as on vault and floor, adding to her growing list of strong performances this season. 

In Level 4 competition, all five RCG competitors recorded personal bests. 

Myiah Punch led the way with a 36.2 all-around, including a very strong 9.3 on balance beam. 

Aubrey Dalton followed close behind with a 36.075, with her standout performance coming on the floor with a 9.325. 

Maya Dalton crossed the 35.00 milestone, landing two 9.2s on beam and floor, while Addie Bellermann was consistent across all events, scoring above 8.5 on each for a total of 34.85. 

Newcomer Kaile’a Townsend also impressed in just her second competition, turning in a solid 8.6 on beam to finish with 33.575.

The Redwood Coast Level 3 team was led by Hannah Naylor (37.050) and Jesse Bestul (36.725), who each scored above 9.0 on every event. 

Submitted photo – From left to right, Laura Barkdull, Jesse Bestul, Hannah Naylor, Abigail Clair, Zoey Long, Annika Dieker, and Cara West.

Naylor placed second on balance beam (9.35) and in the all-around, while Bestul took third on bars (9.225) and beam (9.2). 

Laura Barkdull also impressed with a 9.075 on beam and 9.175 on floor thanks to some clean form and strong execution, according to her coaches, while Zoey Long continued her streak of all-around scores above 35, notching a personal best on uneven bars. 

Annika Dieker showcased her power on vault (9.0) and floor, while Abigail Clair improved her personal best all-around by nearly a point, and Cara West continued to impress with some strong vaulting (8.85). 

Despite a nearly hour-long delay before their final event, the Level 3 gymnasts kept their composure with each competitor staying on the beam, and four of them — Naylor, Bestul, Barkdull and Long — earning medals in the competition.

The state championships will take place from November 14-16.