Washington State Gymnastics Coaches Association

Session 2 of WOWI Invitational.
Welcome Port Ageles, Sequim, Thomas Jefferson, Columbia River, Bellingham, Sehome, Squalicum, Ballard, Sammamish and Issaquah.
Thank you Ballard coaches, gymnasts and families for making this meet possible.

2026 WOWI Invitational… Wicked theme to celebrate Judge Dean.
Session 1-Federal Way, Auburn Mountain View, Tahoma, Snohomish, Glacier Peak, Monroe,Sultan… so sad Meadows wasn’t able to make it. We missed you! Time to defy gravity!

We had a great coaching clinic today! Everyone had fun and learned a lot!
Thank you to our guest speaker Suzanne Marble author of Coaching With Confidence and Mental Performance Coach Debbie Gliner.
Clinicians Richard, Ryan, Hanna, Ellie and Laurie were also awesome!
Thank you Ascend Gymnastics’s for always supporting high school gymnastics and WSGCA by letting us use your gym!

I am devastated to have to share with you the unexpected passing of our beloved judge and friend Dean Ratliff. He has been a vital part of high school gymnastics in Washington for many years.

Dean started coaching right out of high school for USAG clubs and high school for Ingraham and Ballard’s combined program, after coaching for a few years judging fit better into his family’s schedule. In 1990 he judged his first high school state meet, he has been at every State meet as a judge, coach, or meet referee/technical director since then…that’s 35 years being a part of the high school gymnastics State meet. Dean judged club gymnastics as well as NCAA for most, if not all, of his career. He started on the WSGCA board in 1993 and became the Technical Director/state meet referee in 1994 and held that position until his passing. In that position he worked closely with WIAA and WOA. He was also the USAG State Judging director and assignor for a few years. Dean has been recognized for his many contributions in several ways over the years. Dean was Official of the Year 1999, NFHS Official of the Year 2000, was inducted into the WSGCA Hall of Fame in 2017 and is being inducted into the WOA this year. Along with high school gymnastics in this state Dean was also active Nationally, in 2007 he was a founding member of NHSGA and has been their technical director since. He has also judged, was meet director or technical director at every High School Senior National meet since 1999. Outside of gymnastics Dean loved to travel. When he was inducted into the WSGCA Hall of Fame he wrote “Since those days of cassette tapes, vaulting horse and competing on wrestling mats at State my passion for high school gymnastics has not changed. I continue to feel greatly honored to be able to work with so many others that share my passion for high school gymnastics and providing an outlet for these young ladies in our amazing sport…Know that all I do is in support of this program, our coaches and judges and most of all our athletes” I think that sums up Dean. There will be a huge hole in our community without him. He will be missed by so many.

Dean is survived by his wife Mari, children Elizabeth, Amalie and Andrew. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers as they grieve in this difficult time.

Final Senior Nationals post… great trip… the girls made great friends made awesome memories and did some fantastic gymnastics. Home safe and sound!

Finals/Day 2 results

Samantha (River Ridge) 11th on vault
Brooke (Ballard) 15th on beam

WA 8th place team

John Cunningham Sportsmanship team award
Representing Washington Dylan (Ballard)
Congrats!