Commerce City's Koriko Ruiz is a state champion gymnast, having won the all-around title and gold and silver medals at the recent Colorado Association of Recreational Athletes (CARA) state meet.
Ruiz scored a 36.25 to take top all-around honors in the Optional 5 division, the highest competitive level. She also won gold medals for her performance on the balance beam and the uneven bars, and a silver medal in floor exercise.
Ruiz and 15 teammates from the Commerce City Cougars girls' gymnastics team traveled to Overland High School for the state meet, July 24-25 in Aurora. The Cougars were one of 30 recreation teams throughout the state that sent teams. Others included Aurora, Broomfield, Durango, Foothills, Fraser Valley, Grand County, Greeley, Gunnison, Hyland Hills, Johnstown All-Stars, Silverthorne, South Suburban and Thornton.
Cougar McKenna Delay took second place in all-around competition in the Optional 1 division, earning a bronze medal for her uneven bar performance.
Dusti Sandoval also claimed an all-around title in the Compulsory level 5 division. She won the gold medal in floor exercise after scoring a 9.5 for her routine. She also won a silver medal on uneven bars, and placed fourth on vault and beam.
In the Compulsory level 4 division, Taylor Phillips-Jones earned a bronze medal in the all-around competition, won the vault with a 9.2 score and placed sixth on bars.
Commerce City standings
Optional 5
Koriko Ruiz - First in all-around, beam and bars; second on floor
Optional 3
Nicole Yamaguchi- Fifth on balance beam and all-around
Optional 2
Jordan Mee - Fourth on balance beam
Optional 1 - 12-year-olds
Priscilla Romeo - Sixth on bars, floor
McKenna Delay - Second in all-around, third on bars, fourth on floor, fifth on vault, beam
Optional 1 - 13-18-year-olds
Lindsay Webb- Fourth on balance beam, sixth in all-around
Compulsory level 4 - 9-year-olds
Taylor Phillips-Jones - First on vault, third in all-around, sixth on bars
Compulsory level 5 - 10-year-olds
Dusti Sandoval - First in all-around, floor, second on bars, fourth on vault, beam
The Cougars are sponsored by the Commerce City Parks and Recreation Department. For more information about the gymnastics program, call 303-289-3660.