THORNTON – Niwot junior Genevieve Saunders repeated as the all-around state champion Friday night at CHSAA’s Gymnastics State Championships.

Saunders compiled a score of 37.800 while putting together the best score on the vault (9.650) and beam (9.625), turning in the second-best floor exercise (9.525) and scoring 9.0 on the uneven bars.

"This meet, I came in trying to focus on the team," Saunders said after also helping Niwot capture its second-straight team state championship, as well. "I think [winning all-around again] was a goal in the back of my mind, but not my full focus. I think when we all focus on the team, we do our best. So we came in not focusing on the scores, but individually doing better than we have in our past meets. I think with that, that really worked."

Last year, Saunders won the all-around at 37.100.

"I think the pressure [makes this one different]," Saunders said. "I did other sports during the off season of gymnastics this year - diving and track - so I didn't really have that offseason practice time that I would have liked to have had, that I had last year. Coming into this season, I had to really work harder at getting my skills back, instead of getting new skills.

"But it all just means so much. We've put in so much hard work over this season. I'm just really happy and proud of my whole team."

Kaitlin McArthur, a senior from Palmer Ridge, was second in the all-around at 37.450, with Elizabeth junior Braeleigh Melsness (37.075) third, Pueblo Central junior Karlee Knabenshue (37.025) fourth and Roosevelt freshman Kailiana Allen (36.650) fifth.

Arvada West senior Layla Petz won the 5A individual all-around on Thursday.

No Colorado gymnast has won three straight all-around titles since Loveland’s Hannah Bower, from 2005-07.