Bel Air High School to host state gymnastics competition

El Paso will be in an unique position on Friday and Saturday.

Bel Air High School will host a state event in gymnastics this weekend.

Gymnastics in Texas is not a UIL sanctioned event, but still has plenty of participation. Twenty boys and 20 girls teams along with qualifying individuals will compete in the two-day event, which will have two sessions per day at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets are available at 2024 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS - HOME (weebly.com) .

Typically the gymnastic state meet and all other high school state competitions are held in other parts of the state. El Paso has hosted regional and area events before on the high school level, most notably wrestling.

The Ysleta Independent School District is the only district in El Paso to offer gymnastics and the Bel Air and Eastwood teams qualified as teams on the girls side.

"We're really excited to be able to host this event, our program has been successful and we're happy we can compete at our school," said senior Skyla Cruz, who will compete in college at Centenary College of Louisiana. "We've had a great season and we want to showcase what type of team we have and the other teams in El Paso are strong too and they can do well."

Among the Highlanders, including Cruz, who was second at regionals in the vault, Abigayle Gonzalez was fourth in the beam, fifth in the all-around and fifth in the floor, Bryanna Estrada, who was seventh in the bars and Andrea Gallarzo, who was 10th in the vault.

"Our team has such a great bond," Gallarzo said. "We push each other to be the best we can, we support each other all the time. To host this event is special for all of us and it's meaningful for the school. We have a chance to showcase our talent, our school and our city."

Longtime Bel Air gymnastics coach Kristen Schumacher is looking forward to having the meet in El Paso.

"Our program is looking forward to it, it'll be nice to have it here," she said. "We have an area on the second level where kids can warm up and the competition will take place in the main gym. This is the first time we've had this meet and it'll be a great event."

More: HS Scores El Paso High School Scoreboard April 30-May 4

Felix F. Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on X

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Bel Air High School to host state gymnastics competition