Tracy High’s gymnastics team had its junior varsity league final on May 7. Ankita Lakhotia, Kaityln Wallace, and Emily Vasquez placed in this competition.

Vasquez placed fourth overall in the JV league finals. She was awarded second in vault, sixth on beams, and fourth in floor excercise. Lakhotia placed sixteenth overall, and Wallace placed eighteenth overall.

“We are going to be in the varsity finals and there are two more meets left for the varsity team,” gymnastics coach Jenny Yanessa said. “We have a strong varsity team this year, unfortunately, our varsity finals fall on the same day of senior activities, so they will not be present.”

Shelby Hurd and Erika Pulliam will be participating in the varsity finals on May 15. If they qualify, they will go onto the Central Coast Sections (CCS), this takes place on May 21.

“Pulliam has a good chance of placing in the top five in finals,” Yanessa said. “They came into the season with good skills and all of the varsity members have been continuing their gymnastics.”

Seniors Rachel Pombo and Christne Lopopolo have been on the team for four years. Senior Morgan Balaban has been on the team for three years.

“Participating in gymnastics has been a great experience for me, and I wish the best of luck to the varsity members participating in the next competition,” Lopopolo said.

“I hope the seniors leave with a good team bonding experience and continue their friendships outside of the team,” Yanessa said. “I believe that we have a very strong varsity team and their performances have always been good.”

Coach Yanessa hopes to have as many kids as possible to participate on next year’s team. She wants to keep the gymnastics program growing and believes that the team creates a sense of unity in Tracy because it combines all three high schools (Kimball, Tracy, and West) during practice.

“I hope to make the team stronger, and I hope to come into next season with higher levels of performance,” Yanessa said.