The Bainbridge Spartans gymnastics team made its season debut against a combined Port Angeles-Sequim squad Dec. 13.

Bainbridge coach Bryn Lashmet made her coaching debut, too.

“Getting to know the kids and their skills and personalities have been a joy and challenge,” Lashmet said. “It’s been an excellent experience for me to come in and watch them grow.”

Bainbridge beat the Port Angeles/Sequim team 161.55 to 107.56 points, winning all four events with ease.

“The team is really strong this year,” Lashmet said. “We had a good attitude and team spirit toward each other.”

Lashmet said the Spartans excelled on the uneven bars and floor routines. Bainbridge scored 37.4 in the bars, and 42.2 in the floor exercise.

“Overall, everyone performed how I anticipated,” Lashmet said. “We have a few very strong gymnasts who rise to the competition and I saw that tonight.”

Avery Gray, Grace Reeb and Jade Bereman led the Spartans in scoring in each event.

Gray finished first in uneven bars and floor, and second in the vault and balance beam. Reeb finished second in the uneven bars and third in the other competitions. Bereman won the vault and balance beam, finished second in the floor and third in uneven bars.

Overall, Bainbridge captured the top six scores all-around. Gray led the all-around scores with 35.0. Bereman finished second with 34.35, Reeb finished third with 32.45, Sofia Fleischmann fourth with 27.45, Elizabeth Pickle fifth with 27.1 and Shawna Smith sixth with 24.95.

Lashmet believes the success does not come from her coaching though. Instead, she credits assistant coach Jason Balangue, who has been coaching these same gymnasts since they were kids at the club level.

Although the Spartans came out victorious, Lashmet is looking to improve the squad in a unique way.

“We are going to learn to enjoy the meet,” Lashmet said. “The girls put a lot of pressure on themselves, and I want them to have fun and not get caught up in the competition.”