Saturday’s state gymnastics meet was a long time coming for Palmer Ridge.

The Bears finished second at state in 2020 and did the same in 2022. In 2021, they finished third. Palmer Ridge had proven time and time again that it was one of the state’s best teams but could never get over the hump.

That changed on Saturday, when the Bears won three events to win the team title with a score of 183.85.

“It was a surreal experience, and I was so grateful,” senior Rylee Starling said. “I was just in such a whirl of emotion, it was the best thing I’ve ever felt.”

Palmer Ridge gymnastics coaches Kathy and Kiersten Clowes pose after the Bears won the 4A state championship on Saturday.

Courtesy photo

The eight gymnasts who helped Palmer Ridge win the team title were Starling, Makenna Cook, Sydney Cowan, Kaitlin McArthur, Hailey Johnson, Ashlyn Ortiona, Braelyn Marr and Christa Snyder.

Snyder won the floor finals with a score of 9.65. Marr and Ortiona, won in the preliminaries of floor and beam, respectively.

Cook placed third in the all-around with a score of 36.65, while Marr tied for fourth at 36.45. Two other Bears — Starling and McArthur — placed in the top 12 of the all-around.

“We were all just so overwhelmed with joy and excitement because we had finally done what we had come so close to the last few years,” said Cowan, a senior. “It was a bittersweet moment knowing that we had made history and proved to everyone that we could do it.”

Palmer Ridge’s dominance during the 2023 season wasn’t limited to the state meet. The Bears won every varsity meet they entered this season.

The combination of individual excellence and teamwork allowed them to consistently be the best.

“We all just work very well together,” McArthur said. “We learned how to practice, warm up, and compete alongside one another, which makes you feel a lot more confident.”

With so many close finishes to come up just short, Palmer Ridge’s gymnasts could’ve very well doubted themselves heading into this year’s meet.

But that didn’t happen. And that’s something that makes the Bears’ co-head coaches, Kathy and Kiersten Clowes, proud.

“It’s been years in the making for that moment, and we are so thrilled we went out with an undefeated season and a state title for our seniors,” Kathy Clowes said.

Kiersten Clowes added, “Hard work has paid off. We feel so special being the coaches of this team.”

The state title is Palmer Ridge’s first in program history. The Bears had been close several other times but finally got it done on Saturday.

All eight of Palmer Ridge’s 2023 gymnasts are now etched into the school’s history books, and the groundwork is set for future hardware.

“To work so hard and get so close every time without winning was heartbreaking, but it made the win this year so much sweeter,” Cook said. “It feels amazing to know that we made history for the program this year, especially doing it alongside these coaches and teammates.”

Palmer Ridge gymnasts and coaches pose after the Bears won the 4A state championship on Saturday.

Courtesy Wallace Photography