West Central District Gymnastics -- Zanella Leads Decatur

FEDERAL WAY - After a bobble on the balance beam, Felicia Zanella sprang back to life with a spectacular floor exercise to win the all-around title in the West Central District girls gymnastics meet last night at Federal Way High School.

Zanella, a Decatur junior, took advantage of the spring floor and nailed a high-flying double-back somersault to earn a 9.7, best score of the night on any event, clinching the all-around crown in the process with a 37.0. She and teammate Tracy Lyne, second at 36.6, helped Decatur capture its first team championship. The Gators rolled up 165.9 points.

Auburn was the surprise second-place finisher with 163.675 points, earning the district's other team berth to next weekend's state meet. The Trojans had the fourth-best score in the South Puget Sound League meets the week before behind Decatur, Jefferson and Federal Way, but peaked at just the right time. Jefferson was third (161.65) and Federal Way third (161.25).

"I'm on cloud nine," Auburn Coach Terri Herren said. "The girls wanted it really bad. . . . We had a great meet."

Decatur Coach Lisa Treciak felt it was a not-so-great meet for the Gators, who struggled on their first event of the night, the vault.

"We got off to a shaky start, but we ended well," she said. "I think we really felt the pressure of being undefeated."

Zanella, a former club gymnast in her first year with the team, said she was shaky on the balance beam after realizing Decatur trailed Jefferson by four points through two events. She had two early bobbles, then had to grab the beam with both hands to keep from falling off, finishing with an 8.9, her lowest score - and finish (fifth) - of the night. Lyne, another junior, had just scored a 9.35, ultimately good for second place behind Jefferson's Carrie Ziebarth. Lyne, who had fallen the week before, said she was feeling no pressure at all.

"I just went up there and just did it," she said.

Then came floor exercise, Decatur's final event.