5A Gymnastics: MacAskill Makes History With Two Perfect 10s at Individual Finals
Photo: Brad Cochi/CHSAANow
THORNTON – Mountain Range gymnast Frankie Joe MacAskill left Thornton High School on Thursday disappointed at having come one spot short of the Class 5A all-around state championship.
So, the senior returned for Saturday’s individual events with a vengeance.
Electrifying the crowd, MacAskill took first in three events while also setting state history by becoming the first gymnast to ever score a perfect 10 in two individual finals, doing so at the same state meet.
“I can’t describe how I’m feeling,” MacAskill said. “I had a pretty rocky state Day 1 and I left feeling pretty disappointed in myself. I worked so hard all year to take that all-around spot and I didn’t get it, so I came today and this was for me. I wanted to close out my high school career with a bang and I think I did that.”
MacAskill, who also won the individual vault title last season, finished runner-up in the all-around competition on Thursday largely because she fell on the beam.
On Saturday, MacAskill posted a perfect 10 in both the floor exercise and the uneven bars. She also nearly scored a third perfect 10 while claiming her third individual title – on vault – with a score of 9.950.
Arvada’s West’s Layla Petz won the individual beam title with a score of 9.675. She was also crowned the 5A all-around champion on Thursday.
“I’m excited; I’m proud of myself and I’m proud of my team,” Petz said on Thursday night. “We had an awesome meet. I think the team aspect really helped me individually and it was a great day. I was really happy about my beam. I struggle on beam, so it meant a lot that I stayed on it.”
Behind MacAskill in the vault finals, Petz took second with a 9.700 and Rock Canyon’s Callista Larson was third with a 9.625.
Petz also finished second on bars with a 9.450, while Overland’s Renner was third at 9.425. Behind Petz on beam was Broomfield’s Kaya Duncan, who finished with a 9.550, and in third with Renner (9.425).
On floor, MacAskill and Petz (9.675) finished first and second, while Denver East’s Lyla Allman was third at 9.575.
Also in the 5A all-around competition, Allman (37.350) was third and Renner (37.275) was fourth.
In the team competition on Thursday, Mountain Range won the 5A team championship.
