GREENWOOD VILLAGE - Cherry Creek didn’t win the Cherry Creek Gymnastics Invitational on Oct. 6, but that’s OK with the Bruins.

The goal for the team, according to coach Melissa Holmberg, is to be peaking later in the season.

“I’d rather have room for growth than be peaking now,” said Holmberg, whose team finished fourth in the team standings.

Still, despite not having its best performance of the season, Cherry Creek more than held its own in a competitive 12-team field that featured some of the top Class 5A teams in the state.

The Bruins finished just nine points behind Broomfield – which won the invite with a score of 184.5 – and were just five points out of a top-three finish.

“I think this was a really good experience for the team,” said Lauren Niedzinski, a junior on the Cherry Creek squad. “It’s a chance for us to get to know each other better and a chance to bond as a team.”

A bright spot for the Bruins was the all-around performance of Alaina Bolton, who competed in her first all-around competition for the first time in nearly a year.

“She was injured pretty bad in warm-ups at state last year on vault,” Holmberg said. “She didn’t know if she wanted to compete again, but she made a comeback. We know we have room for growth in her routines.”

Kellyn Toole of Overland won the all-around with a score of 37.45.

Cherry Creek’s Olivia Solow-Niederman placed second in the floor exercise with a score of 9.625, which was just behind the winning 9.775 score posted by Gabby Maiden of Broomfield.

It was the best finish in an individual event for the Bruins on the day.

The Bruins will have an opportunity to host another high-profile tournament, as the regional competition will be held at the school on Oct. 27.

“We’re excited about hosting regionals,” Niedzinski said. “I think with this tournament, we showed people what Cherry Creek gymnastics is about.”

Team scores: Broomfield 184.5; Overland 180.925; Elizabeth 177.225; Cherry Creek 175.15; Mountain Range 173.425; Arvada West 172.75; Fort Collins 172.65; Niwot 168.4; Chatfield 168.25; Rock Canyon 166.575; Ponderosa 158.225; Pine Creek 139.475.