They say ignorance is bliss.

For the Auburn Mountainview gymnasts, not knowing how far behind they were coming into the last event at the Olympic, Narrows and South Puget Sound League 3A subregional meet last Saturday was a blessing.

“I had no idea we were that far behind,” coach Jayme Hostetter said.

With just the floor exercise left, the Lions trailed Enumclaw by a whopping 11 points in the team competition.

“Usually there is a parent in the stands who is kind of keeping track of things,” Hostetter said.

But the parents weren’t available to do the math. They were needed as volunteers to run the meet at Mount Rainier High School.

“I never got any feedback, so I didn’t know how close it was,” Hostetter added.

Instead of pressing and worrying about catching first-place Enumclaw, the Lions concentrated on what they do best.

“We ended up with four nines and an 8.5 (on the floor),” Hostetter said. “And that’s pretty darn good.”

The Lions, led by senior Natalie Hostetter’s 9.325 score, was just enough to push them past the Hornets, 166.600 to 166.350, for the team title.

Individually, Hostetter and Enumclaw’s Olivia Bannerot finished tied in the all-around competition with 35.775 points. Bannerot’s high-event total – a 9.450 in the floor exercise – gave her the tiebreaker against second-place Hostetter.

In addition to Hostetter’s all-around performance, Auburn Mountainview had three other gymnasts place in the top 10, with Cassie Hunt, Sara Fiksdal and Hannah Houck grabbing sixth, seventh and eighth, respcectively.

“We’ve had the depth, and that really showed,” Coach Hostetter said. “That was exactly what I expected. I’ve been expecting them to do what they’ve been trying to do all along. They stayed on the beam, they made their connections and did their best on the floor.

“It was really a very steady day,” she added. “Everybody did what they’ve been doing and practicing all along. And if we can continue to do that, we’ll be OK.”

Now, the Lions will turn their attention to the West Central District meet, which begins at 4:30 p.m. today at Auburn Mountainview High School.

Buoyed by the possible return of Mya Williamson, who missed the sub-district meet with shin splints, the Lions also will welcome the home-gym advantage.

“It helps the kids because they’re a little more relaxed,” Coach Hostetter said.

ALSO: Auburn Riverside and Auburn also advanced several individuals to the district meet. Senior Alexis Moore will represent the Trojans in the balance beam and floor exercise, with teammate Ashley Bechard qualifying in the vault, beam and floor. Auburn’s Tyler Garner qualified on the beam and Bailie Davie moved on to district in the floor exercise. Auburn Riverside’s Kylee Smith moved on in the vault, bars and beam and teammate Danielle Robinson will compete in the floor. The West Central District 4A meet gets under way at 4:10 p.m. today at Mount Rainier High School.