Chapter 26

Lee Bjella 2015

Washington Girls High School Judges

Many thanks to Dean Ratliff, Marge Eilers, Donna Lucero for information.

We thank all our local judges who through the years have dedicated their time and love of gymnastics to support the high school program in Washington State. Many judges have come and gone in our state but will be remembered for the extra sacrifice they made to judge high school gymnastics. Judging the high school program took more time away from their families and they certainly didn't do it for the pay! Most have worked full time jobs but gave of themselves selflessly for our athletes.

Kay Canedy, a high school Judge and past State Judging Director, died in 1987, and a special presentation was made in her honor at the state meet that year.

Pat Hatmaker, a Washington judge and high school coach died in 1999.

Donna Lucero, former NAWGJ State Judging Director in the late 1980's and early 1990's. West Seattle High School student who started judging 1972 at the high school level. Pat Hatmaker and Kay Canedy got her into club judging. Donna was an assigner for many years for the Snohomish Board. WOA Judge of the Year 2008 and WOA Hall of Fame 2010. Donna retired from judging in about 2012.

Karen Wisen, who grew up in Washington, UW gymnast, who became a Brevet judge and one of the early high school coaches, later also judged high school gymnastics. Karen died in 2014.

Another of our high school judges, the "Smiley Judge", Corine Olson, died suddenly at age 43 in 2013. She was a gymnast under Dale Shirley at AOG (Academy of Olympic Gymnastics); Newport High School gymnast 1985-1988. SPU gymnast 1988-1992 under Laurel Tindall. All American Bars in 1990 and 1991. MVP 1991. National Team Champions in 1992. Coached Newport High School Gymnastics Team 1993-1995. 1st State Championship for Newport in 1994. Started judging in 1991. Was married and the mother of four. Shortly before her death, she achieved a great goal of becoming a USAG National rated judge. video tribute

A pioneer in the high school judging ranks is Marge Eilers who began judging high school in about 1974. She has assigned for the varsity and junior high school programs for many years. WA State Gymnastics Coaching Association Hall of Fame 2011.

Dean Ratliff has been a mainstay in the judging ranks and has been the High School Technical Director since 1994. Dean has also been on the National High School Technical Director since 2007. (As of this writing in 2015.) Dean was also the NAWGJ WA State Judging Director from 1994-2000 and is currently an NAWGJ/JAS assigner for the Northwest universities for a four year stint starting in 2013.

Liz Johnson - first SJD for WA state commented: "Since I was a high school coach, I didn't judge high school much except when I was at WSU and judged for Pullman and Moscow, Idaho areas. I also judged college when I was in college, since judges were scarce, so I traveled with the team to away schools and judged. Don't think they would allow that now."

You may read more about our dedicated Washington State gymnastics judges at in the Judges Biographies page.

Awards

WOA Hall of Fame

WA State Gymnastics Coaching Association Hall of Fame

WOA Meritorious Award

Donna Lucero, 2010

Marge Eilers, 2011

2003 Tracy Duncan, Spokane
2007 Barb Graisy, Vancouver
2008 Susan Okazaki and Earla Reed, Seattle

Judge of the Year

High School Technical Directors

Assigners over the years

1999 Dean Ratliff, Seattle
2000 Barb Graisy, Vancouver
2001 Dawn Kiss, Seattle
2002 Karen Renner, Spokane
2003 Shirley Ostboe, TriCities
2004 Michelle Thompson (Ripple), Seattle
2005 Laurie Chadwick, Spokane
2006 Susan Okazaki, Seattle
2007 Melody Swanson, Spokane
2008 Donna Lucero, Sno
2009 Tricia Moreno, Tri-Cities
2010 Leslie Carlson, Seattle
2011 Tracy Duncan, Spokane
2012 Kim Lansidell, Seattle
2013 Earla Reed, Seattle
2014 Pam Cays, Vancouver

Pat Hatmaker 1974-1975 ?
Ann Koskovich 1975-1976
Karen Wisen 1976-1977
Priscilla Hickey 1977 - 1980
Kay Canedy ?-1985
Donna Lucero 1980-1989?
Harriette Dorkin 1989 -1991
Lee Bjella 1991-1994
Dean Ratliff 1994 to present

The Technical Directors job in "the old days" consisted of giving technical rules clinics around the state and also administering tests.
Thankfully now these can be done via the computer!

Anita Sharrat
Patty Ames
Val Karsch
Barb Graisy
Karen Renner
Shirley Ostboe
Carol Clark
Carol Willson
Melody Swanson
Staci Norlen
Tricia Moreno
Susan’s Okazaki
Priscilla Hickey 1973-1980
Donna Lucero
Michelle Ripple

Washington judges who have judged the National High School Meet

 

 

Dean Ratliff
Marge Eilers
Barb Graisy
Michelle Ripple
Kathy Crawford.

 

 

WA High School State Championship Meet Judges

2015 Feb. 20-21, Tacoma, WA. Meet Ref Dean Ratliff; Meet Dir. Linda Wren

4A

Marge Eilers VT1
Beverly McIrvin VT2

Pam Cays UB1
Susan Okazaki UB2

Pam Harper BB1
Michele Mayberry BB2

Michelle Ripple FX1
Stella Clarke Sorenson FX2

2A/3A

Janet Urfer VT1
Susan Okazaki VT2

Dawn Kiss UB1
Kim Lansidel UB2

Earla Reed BB1
Pam Cays BB2

Tracy Duncan FX1
Barb Graisy FX2

Finals

Tracy Duncan VT1
Kim Lansidel VT2

Dawn Kiss UB1
Pam Cays UB2

Michelle Ripple BB1
Marge Eilers BB2

Earla Reed FX1
Susan Okazaki FX2

2014 Feb. 21-22, Tacoma, WA. Meet Ref Dean Ratliff; Meet Dir. Linda Wren

4A

Stella Clarke Sorenson VT1
Barb Graisy VT2
Earla Reed UB1
Susan Okazaki UB2
Tracy Duncan BB1
Leanna Hess BB2
Kathy Crawford FX1
Janine Bell FX2

2A/3A

Kristen Bartlett VT1
Kim Lansidel VT2
Pam Cays UB1
Susan Okazaki UB2
Tricia Moreno BB1
Michele Mayberry BB2
Marge Eilers FX1
Laurie Chadwick FX2

Finals

Marge Eilers VT1
Barb Graisy VT2
Kathy Crawford UB1
Tracy Duncan UB2
Pam Cays BB1
Susan Okazaki BB2
Tricia Moreno FX1
Kristen Bartlett FX2

2013 Feb. 15-16, Tacoma, WA. Meet Ref Dean Ratliff; Meet Dir. Linda Wren

4A

Lee Bjella
Tracy Duncan
Barb MacAfee
Earla Reed
Susan Okazaki
Valerie Karsch
Pam Cays
Carol Willson
Chrystal Lofton

2A/3A

Kathy Crawford
Marge Eilers
Corine Olsen
Michelle Ripple
Dawn Kiss
Kim Lansidel
Stella Clarke

Finals

2012 Feb. 17-18, Tacoma, WA. Meet Ref Dean Ratliff; Meet Dir. Linda Wren

4A

Barb Graisy VT1
Susan Okazaki VT2
Tracy Duncan UB1
Janine Bell UB2
Marge Eilers BB1
Chrystall Lofton BB2
Pier Hansen FX1
Kim Lansidell FX2

2A/3A

Pier Hansen VT1
Marge Eilers VT2
Chrystal Lofton UB1
Kathy Crawford UB2
Corine Olsen BB1
Laurie Chadwick BB2
Leslie Carlson FX1
Barb Graisy FX2

Finals

Corine Olsen VT1
Tracy Duncan VT2
Pier Hansen UB1
Chrystal Lofton UB2
Leslie Carlson BB1
Kathy Crawford BB2
Barb Graisy FX1
Janine Bell FX2

2011 Feb. 18-19, Tacoma, WA. Meet Ref Dean Ratliff; Meet Dir. Linda Wren

4A
Lee Bjella
Becky Carlson
Leslie Carlson
Kathy Crawford
Tracy Duncan
Marge Eilers
Barb Graisy
Chris Greso
Pier Hansen
Barb MacAfee
Corine Olsen
Earla Reed
Michelle Ripple

2A/3A

Finals

2010 Feb. 19-20, Tacoma, WA. Meet Ref Dean Ratliff; Meet Dir. Linda Wren

4A

Lee Bjella
Leslie Carlson
Laurie Chadwick
Kathy Crawford
Tracy Duncan
Tracy Duncan
Barb Graisy
Pier Hansen
Dawn Kiss
Tricia Moreno
Corine Olsen
Earla Reed
Michelle Ripple
Katy Tavog
Jan Urfer

2A/3A

Finals

2009 Feb., Tacoma, WA. Meet Ref Dean Ratliff; Meet Dir. Linda Wren

4A
Tricia Moreno VT1
Marge Eilers VT2
Pier Geiger UB1
Leslie Carlson UB2
Corine Olsen BB1
Michelle Moore BB2
Michelle Thompson FX1
Katy Tavog FX2

2A/3A
Donna Lucero VT1
Pam Cays VT2
Barb Graisy UB1
Dawn Kiss UB2
Lee Bjella BB1
Barb MacAfee BB2
Earla Reed FX1
Tracy Duncan FX2

Finals
Michelle Thompson 4A VT1
Corine Olsen 4A VT2
Lee Bjella 3A UB1
Earla Reed 3A UB2
Donna Lucero 3A BB1
Tricia Moreno 4A BB2
Barb Graisy 3A FX1
Pier Hansen 4A FX2

  

2008 Feb. , Tacoma, WA. Meet Ref Dean Ratliff; Meet Dir. Linda Wren

4A
Barb Graisy VT1
Patty Ames VT2
Lee Bjella UB1
Kathy Crawford UB2
Earla Reed BB1
Michelle Moore BB2
Katy Tavog FX1
Sheri Bousquet FX2

2A/3A
Donna Lucero VT1
Barb Graisy VT2
Barb MacAfee UB1
Dawn Kiss UB2
Pier Hansen BB1
Leslie Carlson BB2
Marge Eilers FX1
Laurie Chandler FX2

Finals
Donna Lucero VT1 3A
Barb Graisy VT1 4A
Barb MacAfee UB1 3A
Lee Bjella UB1 4A
Pier Hansen BB1 3A
Earla Reed BB1 4A
Marge Eilers FX1 3A
Katy Tavog FX1 4A

 

2007 Feb. 16-17, Tacoma, WA. Meet Ref Dean Ratliff; Meet Dir. Linda Wren

4A
Corine Olsen VT1
Michelle Moore VT2
Barb MacAfee UB1
Leslie Carlson UB2
Lee Bjella BB1
Tricia Moreno BB2
Barb Graisy FX1
Pier Hansen FX2

2A/3A
Marge Eilers VT1
Donna Lucero VT2
Earla Reed UB1
Laurie Chadwick UB2
Michelle Thompson BB1
Sheri Bousquet BB2
Dawn Kiss FX1
Tracy Duncan FX2

Finals
Corine Olsen/Marge Eilers VT
Earla Reed/Barb MacAfee UB
Michelle Thompson/Lee Bjella BB
Dawn Kiss/Barb Graisy FX

2006 Feb. 17-18, Tacoma, WA. Meet Ref Dean Ratliff; Meet Dir. Linda Wren

4A
Barb Graisy VT1
Donna Lucero VT2
Barb MacAfee UB1
Lee Bjella UB2
Dawn Kiss BB1
Melody Swanson BB2
Kelly Feuer FX1
Earla Reed FX2

2A/3A
Judy Denny VT1
Tricia Moreno VT2
Earla Reed UB1
Corine Olsen UB2
Tracy Duncan BB1
Leslie Carlson BB2
Marge Eilers FX1
Barb MacAfee FX2

Finals
Marge Eilers/Tracy Duncan (3A) /Barb Graisy (4A) VT
Lee Bjella/Barb MacAfee UB
Dawn Kiss/Tracy Duncan (3A) /Barb Graisy (4A) BB
Kelly Feuer/ Earla Reed FX

2005 Feb. 18-19, Tacoma, WA. Meet Ref Dean Ratliff; Meet Dir. Linda Wren

4A
Marge Eilers VT1
Anne Dole VT2
Barb MacAfee UB1
Lee Bjella UB2
Kelly Feuer BB1
Earla Reed BB2
Dawn Kiss FX1
Corine Olsen FX2

2A/3A
Kathy Crawford VT1
Barb MacAfee VT2
Noelle Buell UB1
Karen Wisen UB2
Donna Lucero BB1
Barb Graisy BB2
Judy Denny FX1
Karen Renner FX2

Finals
Kathy Crawford/ Karen Wisen VT
Barb MacAfee/ Noelle Buell UB
Marge Eilers/ Lee Bjella BB
Judy Denny/ Dawn Kiss FX

2004 Feb. 20-21, Tacoma, WA. Meet Ref Dean Ratliff; Meet Dir. Linda Wren

4A
Early Reed VT1
Kristen Wemm VT2
Karen Wisen UB1
Barb MacAfee UB2
Marge Eilers BB1
Corine Olsen BB2
Barb Graisy FX1
Dawn Kiss FX2

2A/3A
Barb MacAfee VT1
Kelly Feuer VT2
Dawn Kiss UB1
Barb Graisy UB2
Kathy Crawford BB1
Tracy Duncan BB2
Lee Bjella FX1
Karen Renner FX2

Finals
Earla Reed/ Barb MacAfee VT
Karen Wisen/ Dawn Kiss UB
Marge Eilers/ Kathy Crawford BB
Barb Graisy/ Lee Bjella FX

2003 Feb. 21-22, Tacoma, WA. Meet Ref Dean Ratliff; Meet Dir. Linda Wren

4A
Barb Graisy VT1
Karen Wisen VT2
Dawn Kiss UB1
Tracy Duncan UB2
Karen Renner BB1
Corine Olsen BB2
Michelle Thompson FX1
Kelly Feuer FX2

2A/3A
Tracy Duncan VT1
Noelle Buell VT2
Lee Bjella UB1
Karen Renner UB2
Earla Reed BB1
Michelle Thompson BB2
Marge Eilers FX1
Barb Graisy FX2

Finals

2002 Feb. 15-16, Tacoma, WA. Meet Ref Dean Ratliff; Meet Dir. Linda Wren

4A
Barb MacAfee VT1
Natalie Pearson VT2
Barb Graisy UB1
Janine Bell UB2
Earla Reed BB1
Tracy Duncan BB2
Dawn Kiss FX1
Michelle Thompson FX2

2A/3A
Noelle Draggoo VT1
Valerie Karsch VT2
Karen Renner UB1
Pam Swan UB2
Judy Denny BB1
Marge Eilers BB2
Lee Bjella FX1
Barb Graisy FX2

Finals

2001 Feb. 16-17, Tacoma, WA. Meet Ref Dean Ratliff; Meet Dir. Linda Wren

4A
Earla Reed VT1
Barb MacAfee VT2
Dawn Kiss UB1
Judy Denny UB2
Karen Renner BB1
Lee Bjella BB2
Barb Graisy FX1
Kori Crane FX2

2A/3A
Chris Greso VT1
Karen Renner VT2
Natalie Pearson UB1
Michelle Thompson UB2
Marge Eilers BB1
Valerie Karsch BB2
Judy Denny FX1
Barb Graisy FX2

Finals

2000 Feb. 18-19, Tacoma, WA. Meet Ref Dean Ratliff; Meet Dir. Linda Wren

4A
Dawn Kiss VT1
Barb MacAfee VT2
Earla Reed UB1
Lee Bjella UB2
Marge Eilers BB1
Noelle Draggoo BB2
Barb Graisey FX1
Kori Crane FX2

2A/3A
Lee Bjella VT1
Valerie Karsch VT2
Noelle Draggoo UB1
Karen Wisen UB2
Natalie Pearson BB1
Wendy Hoffmeister BB2
Judy Denny FX1
Theresa Murphy FX2

Finals

1999 Feb. 19-20, Tacoma, WA. Meet Ref Dean Ratliff; Meet Dir. Linda Wren

4A
Earla Harwell VT1
Janine Bell VT2
Karen Renner UB1
Lee Bjella UB2
Dawn Kiss BB1
Theresa Murphy BB2
Barb Graisy FX1
Robyn Walters FX2

2A/3A
Barb MacAfee VT1
Dawn Kiss VT2
Natalie Pearson UB1
Noelle Draggoo UB2
Marge Eilers BB1
Wendy Hoffmeister BB2
Judy Denny FX1
Barb Graisy FX2

Finals

1998 Feb. 20-21, Tacoma, WA. Meet Ref Dean Ratliff; Meet Dir. Linda Wren

4A
Teresa Hiebert VT1
Natalie Pearson VT2
Barb Graisy UB1
Kim Lansidel UB2
Barb MacAfee BB1
Theresa Murphy BB2
Earla Harwell FX1
Judy Denny FX2

2A/3A
Marge Eilers VT1
Karen Wisen VT2
Dawn Kiss UB1
Barb Graisy UB2
Lee Bjella BB1
Natalie Pearson BB2
Karen Renner FX1
Chris Greso FX2

Finals

1997 Feb. 21-22, Tacoma, WA. Meet Ref Dean Ratliff; Meet Dir. Linda Wren

Chris Greso VT1
Kim Lansidel VT2
Earla Harwell UB1
Judy Denny UB2
Dawn Kiss BB1
Wendy Hoffmeister BB2
Karen Renner FX1
Valerie Karsch FX2

 

Finals

1996 Feb. 16-17 Tacoma, WA.Meet Ref Dean Ratliff; Meet Dir. Kirk Knestis

4A

2A/3A

Finals

  

1995 Feb. 17-18 Tacoma, WA.Meet Ref Dean Ratliff; Meet Dir. Kirk Knestis

Patty Amees VT1
Natalie Pearson VT2
Lee Bjella UB1
Barb Graisy-Adams UB2
Earla Harwell BB1
Karen Renner BB2
Chris Greso FX1
Barb MacAfee FX2

 

Finals

1994 Feb. 18-19 Tacoma, WA. Meet Ref Lee Bjella: Meet Dir Kirk Knestis

Barb MacAfee VT1
Karen Renner VT2
Marge Eilers UB1
Susan Ideta UB2
Barb Graisy-Adams BB1
Kyla Stefani BB2
Judy Denny FX1
Earla Harwell FX2

 

Finals

1993 Feb. 19-20 Tacoma, WA. Meet Ref Karen Wisen; Meet Dir. Jerry Penney/Kirk Knestis

Anita Sharratt VT1
Karen Renner VT2
Chris Greso UB1
Donna Lucero UB2
Marge Eilers BB1
Carol Zuvela BB2
Lee Bjella FX1
Barb Graisy-Adams FX2

 

Finals

1992 Feb. 15-16 Tacoma, WA. Meet Ref Harriette Dorkin; Meet Dir Jerry Penney

Lee Bjella VT1
Sandy Strathdee VT2
Anita Sharratt UB1
Earla Harwell UB2
Tracey Lowery BB1
Dean Ratliff BB2
Marge Eilers FX1
Debbie Dorkin FX2

 

Finals

 

1991 Feb. 15-16 Tacoma, WA. Meet Ref Harriette Dorkin; Meet Dir Jerry Penney

 

 

Finals

1990 Feb. 15-16 Tacoma, WA. Meet Ref Harriette Dorkin; Meet Dir Jerry Penney

Earla Harwell VT1
Dean Ratliff VT2
Chris Greso UB1
Kathy Harrison UB2
Anita Sharratt BB1
Marge Eilers BB2
Barb Adams FX1
Lee Bjella FX2

 

Finals

1989 Feb. 17-18 Sammamish High School Meet Ref Harriette Dorkin; Meet Dir Jerry Penney

Barb MacAfee VT1
Ann Cronin VT2
Chris Greso UB1
Earla Harwell UB2
Lisa Boylan BB1
Sue Wolfe BB2
Marge Eilers FX1
Lee Bjella FX2

 

Finals

1988 Feb. 17-18 Port Angeles High School; Meet Ref Harriette Dorkin; Meet Dir Richard Smith

Barb MacAfee VT1
Sandy Strathdee VT2
Barb Adams UB1
Anne Cronin UB2
Anita Sharratt BB1
Earla Harwell BB2
Marge Eilers FX1
Jill Steele FX2

 

Finals

1987 Feb 20-21; Kent-Meridian HS; Meet Dir Gunter Bohrmann

 

 

Finals

  

1986 Feb 21-22; Kent-Meridian HS; Meet Dir Gunter Bohrmann

 

 

Finals

 

1985 Feb. 14-1 5 Samm HS 12th annual; Meet Ref Donna Lucero; Meet Dir Jerry Penney

Donna Lucero VT1
Sally Poe VT2
Kay Canedy UB1
Barb Adams UB2
Anita Sharratt BB1
Sue Jordan BB2
Marge Eilers FX1
Kathy Dole FX2
Alternates Jan Toney, Barb MacAfee

 

Finals

1984 Feb. Sammamish High School; Meet Ref: Laurel Tindall; Meet Dir. Jerry Penney

Donna Lucero VT1
Sally Poe VT2
Kay Canedy UB1
Barb Adams UB2
Anita Sharratt BB1
Sue Jordan BB2
Marge Eilers FX1
Kathy Dole FX2
Alternates Jan Toney, Barb MacAfee

 

Finals

1983 Feb. 25-26 Samm HS 10th annual; Meet Ref Laurel Tindall; Meet Dir Jerry Penney

Barb MacAfee VT1
Anita Sharratt VT2
Donna Lucero UB1
Sally Poe UB2
Marge Eilers BB1
Liz Sandin BB2
Kay Canedy FX1
Kathy Doyle FX2
Timer: Kim Brady
Alternates: Stace Ideta, Kathy Harrison

 

Finals

1982 Feb. 26-27 Samm HS 9th annual; Meet Ref Laurel Tindall; Meet Dir Jerry Penney;

Karen Patoile VT1
Anita Sharratt VT2
Priscilla Hickey UB1
Barb MacAfee UB2
Kay Canady BB1
Liz Sandin BB2
Timer: Kim Brady
Donna Lucero FX1
Marge eilers FX2
Timer: Kathy Lucero
Alternates: Chris Greso, Sandy Strathdee

 

Finals

1981 Feb 27-28; Mercer Island HS; Meet Dir Kathy Court

 

 

Finals

 

1980 Feb 22-23 Samm HS 7th annual; Meet Ref Priscilla Hickey; Meet Dir Jerry Penney

SJD Priscilla Hickey

Donna Lucero VT1
Burt Koch VT2
Alt. Lori Stanke
Anita Sharratt UB1
Julie Bolser UB2
Alt. Liz Sandin
Stacey Ideta BB1
Donna Reimland BB2
Alt. Jan Williamson
Marge Eilers FX1
Kay Canedy FX2
Alt. Earla Harwell

 

Finals

1979 Feb. 23-24; Shorewood HS; Meet Dir Gene Wood

 

 

Finals

 

1978 Feb 24-25; Shoreline Comm College; Meet Dir Sherry Cobbe

 

 

Finals

 

1977 Feb 25-26 Columbia HS, Richland Meet Dir Rod Ostboe

 

 

Finals

 

1976 Feb. 27-28 Samm HS; Meet Ref Ann Koskovich; Meet Dir Jerry Penney

Pat Hatmaker was SJD Ann Koskovich was State Tech Director
This is how the judges were listed in program

Vault Karen Patoile HJ
Carol Ellison
Danise Carroll
Marti Hayter

BARS Dana Haehl HJ
Carol Clark
Sheryl York
Lorna Carr
Debbie Colburn

BB Priscilla Hickey CJ
Nancy Ellis
Mary Ann Lynn

FX Pat Hatmaker CJ
Kay Canedy
Rodine Schauer

 

Finals
Karen Patiole CJ
Priscilla Hickey
Marti Hayter
Cheryl York
Pat Hatmaker

1975 2nd annual; Feb 28-March 1; Juanita HS; Meet Director April Banks

1974 FIRST OFFICIAL STATE MEET March 1-2 Bellevue Comm College; Meet Director Sue Whitney

1973 March 2-3 Green River Comm college; Meet Directors Sue Whitney and Margaret Trimble

1972 Lewis and Clark HS, Spokane. Meet Director Sonja Roach

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