With more family and friends in the stands than usual, Free State High senior gymnast Sindra Schueler put on a first-place performance.

Schueler won the all-around competition Saturday at a five-team meet, posting a total score of 36.550. Also competing at Free State were Lawrence High, Hutchinson, Emporia and Newton.

“To have all the people I know here, and for them to see what goes on in gymnastics, it’s fun,” Schueler said.

Lawrence freshman Mallory West placed second — just a quarter of a point behind Schueler — scoring a total of 35.3. West had the last laugh, though, when Lawrence placed first in the team standings with 105.3.

“I didn’t really expect to do anything, but just came here as prepared as I could be,” West said. “This is so much more fun for the team because we all work hard together, and it’s good to accomplish something.”

Either Schueler or West placed first in each of the first four events, but the ultimate judge was the vault. West had a tough landing and finished fifth at 8.95. Schueler, whose previous high on the vault was a 9.2, recorded a 9.45 in what she said was the highlight of her day.

West made up for her slip-up on the vault with an impressive showing on the beam, pulling off an impressive back-flip and a nearly perfect dismount to place first at 9.1.

“My best event was probably the beam,” West said. “I’m more consistent on beam than any other event, and it’s just more fun for me.”

The Lawrence schools dominated individually, locking up eight of the top ten spots in the all-around.

Free State High senior Sindra Schueler performs on the uneven bars. Schueler won the all-around competition Saturday at Free State High.

LHS sophomore Kara Kellison placed fourth, and Free State junior April Miller was sixth.

“I thought we did really, really well,” Schueler said. “We had all of our girls here, and I was very impressed with what everybody did.”