Skowhegan state gymnastics favorite

Skowhegan, the runner-up in last year’s state meet, will be the favorite this year when the Indians host the state gymnastics championships Saturday at 1 p.m.

Skowhegan had an average score of 152.142 points in six meets during the regular season, almost 5.5 points better than Kennebunk, which had the second-highest team scores going into Saturday’s championship.

Noble of North Berwick, Biddeford, Mountain Valley of Rumford and Old Town will also send teams to states.

Six gymnasts per team are eligible and the top five scores are counted in a team’s score.

Gymnasts compete in any or all of the four events: vault, balance beam, floor exercise and uneven parallel bars. All four events will be held simultaneously. The top two teams will receive the team awards, and the gymnast with the top overall scores in the four events will be named the all-around champion.

Biddeford is the defending state champ. The Tigers have been averaging 109.150 points in their six meets.

Carlee Evans, who helped the Skowhegan field hockey team win the Class A title this past fall, will have a shot at the all-around title. Evans finished fourth overall last year with a score of 35.35. She was second on the beam, third on the floor and took fifth on both the vault and bars.

The Indians won their first state gymnastics title in 2002.