By David Yanovitz
Special to The Washington Post
Thursday, May 15, 2008

A onetime club gymnast, Ebony Walters gave up the rigorous training that goes along with competing for a club team when she entered Bethesda-Chevy Chase as a freshman.

But in the past year, as a sophomore, Walters returned to club competition with Marva Teens in Rockville, and as a Level 10 no less, just one level below elite status.

"She wanted back in," Barons Coach Dana Creager said.

Those increased skills and extra hours in the gym paid off on the high school level last Thursday, when Walters won the all-around competition (38.25) at the Montgomery County championships. She edged Danae Johnson of Blake by less than two-tenths of a point.

Her victory prevented Johnson from winning a fourth straight Montgomery County crown.

Walter Johnson freshman Shannon Mitchell finished third (37.1), followed by Blake junior Nicole Williams (37.0).

Walters won two of the four individual events, capturing balance beam with a 9.5 and floor exercise (where she landed a difficult front handspring-front layout) with a 9.65.

"I think floor was my best event and I love doing it. That bumped my score up a little bit," said Walters, who said she felt a "little bit" of pressure knowing that Johnson was going for a four-year sweep.

Danae Johnson, who will compete for Rutgers next year, won the vault competition with the highest score of the meet: 9.825. Williams won the uneven bars with 9.55.

Bethesda-Chevy Chase also won the county team title for the second straight season, capturing the meet with a county-record score of 180.85. Walter Johnson placed second with 179.95, followed by Sherwood, Blake, Blair and Springbrook.