Submitted photos – From left to right, Annika Dieker, Zoey Long, Jesse Bestul, Laura Barkdull and Cara West.

A group of young local girls recently made the trip for the NorCal state championships in Santa Rosa to compete against some the top gymnasts from across Northern California.

And, according to their coaches, all 13 Humboldt County girls performed well in their season-ending tournament.

The prestigious championships included over 1200 gymnasts from 56 clubs, with athletes competing in levels 2-5 and bracketed by both age and level.

“It’s very gratifying to get some podium placings at state championships, and I’m pleased and proud that the girls were able to have such a strong final meet of their season,” head coach Brian Van Pelt said of the local gymnasts, who train between six and 12 hours per week at Flips for Kids in Eureka.

This year’s format brought added challenges for the Eureka-based team.

Four RCG gymnasts competed in sessions without any teammates, and two other sessions included only a single teammate pair. 

Despite this, the young athletes delivered poised and confident performances.

RCG’s top all-around scores came from its Level 4 competitors, where 12-year-old Aubrey Dalton and 13-year-old Myiah Punch each earned a 36.5 all-around total, placing sixth in their respective divisions.

Dalton reached the podium with a career-best 9.35 on bars, earning a bronze medal, and she also medaled on floor (9.225 for sixth). 

Punch followed closely with a career-high 9.325 on bars to place fourth, as well as a personal best on vault (8.9).

All of the team’s Level 4 athletes reached new personal milestones. Addie Bellermann (10) and Kaile’a Townsend (14) each recorded a career-high 35.10 all-around score, with nine-year-old Maya Dalton just behind at 35.05, which also a personal record. 

Maya Dalton

Momo Baxter

Bellermann collected medals on bars (9.025, fourth), vault (8.825, sixth), and floor (8.725, sixth). 

Townsend notched career highs across three events — vault (8.825), bars (9.025), and floor (8.85) — while Dalton, who was competing in one of the meet’s toughest age divisions, earned a standout 9.15 on vault, which was a personal best, and a strong 9.05 on floor.

In Level 5 competition, RCG was represented by 11-year-old Momo Baxter, who exceeded her previous all-around score by more than half a point to finish with a 34.825. 

Baxter posted personal bests on every apparatus, highlighted by a 9.275 on vault and 9.125 on floor. 

The judges also recognized and commented on her bravery and joy while performing on the balance beam.

The team’s Level 3 competitors continued RCG’s run of success.

Twelve-year-old Laura Barkdull achieved RCG’s highest all-around placing, earning a bronze medal with a career-best 35.575, and also medaled on all four events and with personal records on vault (8.875, 5th), bars (8.75, fifth), and beam (9.3, fourth).

Hannah Naylor

Abigail Clair and Hannah Naylor

Fellow 12-year-old Zoey Long earned two podium finishes — tying for a silver medal on beam (9.325) and winning the bronze on floor (9.0)— en route to a career-high 35.525 and fifth place all-around. 

Jesse Bestul (11) captured a bronze medal on beam with a career-best 9.2 and finished sixth all-around with a strong 36.125.

RCG’s depth on balance beam continued with Annika Dieker and Cara West, who tied for sixth among 12-year-olds with 9.0. 

Dieker also medaled on vault (8.8) and bars (8.7), while West added a career-best 8.475 on bars.

Among the younger age groups, Hannah Naylor and Abigail Clair, both 10, faced stiff competition yet still delivered standout results.

Naylor earned medals on vault (9.2, fifth), bars (9.0, fifth), and in the all-around (35.725, seventh), while Clair reached new career highs on beam (8.95, sixth), vault (8.925) and bars (8.375).

The RCG team will now enjoy a brief offseason to rest and recharge, before resuming competition in January 2026.

Myiah Punch and Kaile’a Townsend