Staunton, Ford Are Top District Gymnasts

Highland Park claimed every gold medal from its district gymnastics meet, which concluded on Wednesday at the Hegi Family Gymnastics Center.

Competing against gymnasts from the Garland and Irving school districts, the Scots swept the boys and girls team titles.

Defending all-around state champion Clayton Staunton won all six boys events, highlighted by optional routines of 9.7 on both floor exercise and horizontal bar.

HP’s Austin Chapman was second in the all-around standings, finishing second behind Staunton on pommel horse, rings, vault, and parallel bars. Another HP teammate, John Sartain, came in fifth.

Meanwhile, Lily Ford earned the all-around title for the Lady Scots. The sophomore also was the district champion on balance beam and floor exercise, and tied for third on vault.

Kennedy Downing won on vault after scoring a 9.95 in her optional routine. Downing also was second on floor, third on uneven bars, and third on vault. She was just behind Ford in the all-around standings.

Linda Tran won the all-around bronze medal along with gold on uneven bars. Tran also tied for third place on vault and floor. Ana Simpson took top-three positions in all four events for the Lady Scots.

Next up, HP will compete at the regional meet on April 11-12 at Rockwall-Heath.