SOUTHERN SECTION GYMNASTICS : Brea Olinda Gymnasts Are Second, Third

Brea Olinda gymnasts Tennli Ulicny and Erica Castillo have traded turns on the first- and second-place platforms all year.

In the Southern Section individual finals Saturday at Brea Olinda, they were back in a familiar spot.

Ulicny, a freshman, won the floor exercise (9.675), took third in the beam (9.50) and had fourth-place finishes in the uneven bars and vault en route to a second-place finish in the all-around competition (37.475).

Castillo’s victories in the vault (9.150) and bars (9.525) placed her third in the all-around (37.425).

Castillo, a senior, lost points on the beam when she fell while performing a backtuck. With a score of 9.25, the error pushed her down to fifth place in the event and cost her an opportunity at first place in the all-round.

Castillo finished in fourth in the floor exercise, an event she won at the same meet last season.

“I was really happy with my performance, other than my slip on the beam,” Castillo said.

Elissa Palmer of Los Angeles Marlborough won the all-around (37.800) with a first place in the beam (9.7) and three second-place finishes.

Palmer had a slight advantage in the floor and beam events because Ulicny and Castillo had finished both exercises before she started either.

After Palmer’s 9.7 on the beam, which was the highest score in any event, she needed only a 9.2 or better on the floor to win the all-around.

Brea Olinda senior Tarra Barlow had four top-10 finishes, and placed ninth in the all-around. Teammate Genna Chapluk placed fifth in the vault and beam and finished 12th in the all-around.

“I’m really pleased with our performances today,” Brea Olinda Coach Ron Hampton said. “These girls are competing against the best today.”

Other county competitors who placed in the all-around were Michelle Iverson of San Clemente (10th), Kendra Oaks of Dana Hills (14th) and Krista Dalton of Capistrano Valley (16th).

Marlborough, which won the Southern Section team title over the Wildcats and Capistrano Valley last week, had five competitors finish among the top 13 in the all-around.

Long Beach Poly received a strong performance from Ashleigh Schroeder, who placed fourth in the all-around after a second in the beam and third on the bars.