LOVELAND — Thompson Valley’s Gentry Knaub had just enough left in her vault on Friday to come through to win the all-around title in the 22nd annual Loveland Invitational gymnastics meet.

The Loveland Invitational has been dubbed mini-state over the past few years and Knaub’s competition with Green Mountain’s Kelly Stone was all it was meant to be. The two Rocky Mountain News All-Colorado gymnasts were solid through the night in the 12-team meet.

Stone was finished with her individual events and was sitting with a 38.175 while Knaub had two to go, floor exercise and vault. Knaub won the floor with a 9.725 to Stone’s 9.445, then follow with a 9.650 on vault to Stone’s 9.575.

“I felt I had a great meet, but I need to improve more on bars,” said Knaub, who placed second to Stone on the balance beam and fifth on the bars. “I felt comfortable on the bars, even though it was only the second time I’ve done that routine and I just got my straddle back a week ago. It just needs more work.

“Kelly’s strong, for sure, but I do wish that Michelle (Tharp of Fort Collins) would have been OK and that Hannah (Bower of Loveland) would have been able to compete. This meet can pretty much be mini-state.”

The absence of three-time all-around state champion Bower and an injured Tharp, both with leg injuries, were the only drawbacks in the individual competition.

While Stone finished second in the all-around, she was pleased to help lead Green Mountain to the team championship. The Rams scored 177.8 points to top Overland (177.275), which was led by third-place all-around finisher Megan Adams (37.275), and Thompson Valley (173.125).

“I had three falls on Wednesday in our last meet so this was a good recovery,” Stone said. “I knew it would be tough between us three, but Michelle didn’t go all-around. It was all going to depend on who had a good night.

“I was really happy with our team because everyone stepped up. I felt good about my bars and beam. I totally changed my routines and I was nervous about my beam. I think it’s working out well.”

Green Mountain coach Sandy Patterson was more than pleased with what she felt was an unexpected outcome.

“This is a great meet to come to as you can get an early indication as to where you stand and I did not think we would do this well,” Patterson said. “I’m really pleased as we did 10 points better than our last two meets. . . .

“I’m proud of the girls and Kelly had a great night. She helped pickup the team and helped pull everybody together. She struggled in her last meet, so it’s good to see her get back up.”

Green Mountain also received a pair of top-six finishes from Mackenzie Comstock in the uneven bars and floor.

Despite her injury Tharp still competed in two events and won the balance beam with a 9.725 to Knaub’s 9.525.

“I haven’t done really well on bars at all,” said Tharp, who was third on the event with a 9.475. “I will be going in Monday for an X-ray and I hope it’s not a stress fracture, which is what it just might be. I thought I did pretty good on my two and my teammates were hitting on their events. I just wanted to go as hard as I could and it worked I guess. I just hope to be fully ready by state and that’s the only meet that matters.”

Fort Collins started the season as the state’s No. 1 ranked team and a healthy Tharp could have meant a much different result Friday.

TEAM SCORES

Green Mountain 177.80, Overland 177.275, Thompson Valley 173.125, Fort Collins 172.80, Rocky Mountain 172.475, Mountain Range 171.612, Broomfield 169.65, Loveland 168.175, Niwot 160.225, Arvada West 160.225, Northglenn 121.925, Sterling 96.9.

ALL-AROUND

1. Gentry Knaub, Thompson Valley, 38.3. 2. Kelly Stone, Green Mountain, 38.175. 3. Megan Adams, Overland, 37.275. 4. Mackenzie Comstock, Green Mountain, 36.45. 5. Lauren Hanley, Overland, 35.575. 6. Stephanie Pollard, Rocky Mountain, 35.525.

BALANCE BEAM

1. Michelle Tharp, Fort Collins, 9.725. 2. Gentry Knaub, Thompson Valley, 9.525. 3. Kelly Stone, Green Mountain, 9.525. 4. Megan Adams, Overland, 9.5. 5. Jamie Quere, Loveland, 9.15. 6. Logan Rogers, Fort Collins, 9.1.

FLOOR EXERCISE

1. Gentry Knaub, Thompson Valley, 9.725. 2. Kelly Stone, Green Mountain, 9.45. 3. Megan Adams, Overland, 9.225. 4. Mackenzie Comstock, Green Mountain, 9.125. 5. Brittney Bott, Arvada West, 9.125. 6. Taelore Fehr, Green Mountain, 9.075.

UNEVEN BARS

1. Kelly Stone, 9.625. 2. Megan Adams, Overland, 9.55. 3. Michelle Tharp, Fort Collins, 9.475. 4. MacKenzie Comstock, Green Mountain, 9.45. 5. Gentry Knaub, Thompson Valley, 9.4. 6. Janelle Packeco, Mountain Range, 9.25.

VAULT

1. Gentry Knaub, Thompson Valley, 9.65. 2. Kelly Stone, Green Mountain, 9.575. 3. Ruby Robinson, Overland, 9.25. 4. Stephanie Pollard, Rocky Mountain, 9.225. 5. Allie Burgess, Broomfield, 9.2. 5. Mackenzie Comstock, Green Mountain, 9.175.

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