Gymnast wins state championship

An 11-year-old Tucumcari girl recently won an individual state championship during a gymnastics event in Albuquerque.

Aliyah Marez, who takes attends school in Tucumcari but takes classes at KATZ Gymnastics in Clovis, won her age group at the state tournament.

“She was so excited,” her mother, Veronica, said. Veronica also noted her daughter was battling an illness during the competition.

KATZ also won the team title against about seven other teams in New Mexico.

Aliyah earned scores of 9.0 (out of 10) in the floor routine, 9.425 on the vault, 9.275 on the uneven bars and 9.2 on the balance beam.

Aliyah hopes to eventually qualify for Team USA gymnastics during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.