Lawrence High and Free State each placed three girls on the Kansas Gymnastics Assn. all-state team, and five of those athletes are expected to return next season.

“I’m really proud of the girls this year and how they performed,” said Kathy Johnson, who coaches both LHS and Free State.

Lawrence won the state championship Nov. 6 in Olathe, and Free State finished third. LHS freshman Mallory West led the Lions to the championship, winning the beam and the all-around competitions. Lawrence sophomore Kara Kellison was fourth in the all-around, and Free State senior Sindra Schueler was sixth.

All three girls earned first-team all-state honors in at least two events. Lawrence junior Meredith West, Free State junior April Miller and FSHS sophomore Laura Devlin also earned postseason honors from the KGA, which averaged competitors’ scores from three big meets — such as league, regional and state — to determine the all-state teams.

“Kendra, Mallory and Sindra were expected,” Johnson said. “I was pleased April, Laura and Meredith also were amongst the group in one way or another.”

Lawrence had its best showing on the beam, where Mallory West, Schueler and Kellison took three of six spots on the first team.

Mallory West and Schueler also were named to the all-metro team by The Kansas City Star, which named West its gymnast of the year.

Schueler was the only senior among the city’s honorees.

“It’s kind of exciting,” Johnson said about 2005. “Some of them are still kind of coming down to reality like, ‘Did that really happen?’ They had a good year.”

Johnson hopes the success of both teams will lead to an even deeper roster next season.

“Some kids that are thinking, ‘Maybe, maybe not,’ will pull the trigger and come out,” she said.

“There are some kids in the city that could make a difference for Lawrence High and Free State if they decide to come out.”