Southern Section Girls’ Gymnastics : Marlborough’s Baker Narrow Winner of All-Around Title

Robin Baker of Marlborough High of Los Angeles nipped Stephanie Myers of Arroyo High of El Monte by one-tenth of a point Saturday afternoon to win the all-around title at the Southern Section girls’ Individual gymnastics championships at Cal Poly Pomona.

Baker, a key figure in Marlborough’s 3-A team championship win, compiled a total of 36.65 points. Myers, instrumental in Arroyo’s 4-A team title, finished with 36.55 points.

Baker was consistent, but not brilliant in her performance. She did not win an event outright, although she finished in a first place tie on the balance beam with Lisa Leonard of Costa Mesa. She finished tied for third in the side horse, fifth in floor exercise and tied for eighth in the uneven parallel bars.

Myers had a clear shot at the all-around title going into her final event, the floor exercise. But she only managed a score of 9.1, failing to win a medal.

Katie Morimoto of Arroyo finished third in the all-around competition.

Chris Degregory of Los Alamitos did not compete for the all-around title, but won both events she entered. She took the side horse title with a score of 9.4 for a Tsukahara vault. Degregory also starred in the floor exercise. She was awarded a 9.5 by the judges who cited the “flow” of her routine.