Eddie Hay, Cody Carnahan, Dusty Cranmer and Chad Wiest are going where no Butler Gymnastics Club members have gone before.

They are headed to the National Gymnastics Championships to be held next Wednesday through May 9 in San Diego, Calif.

The quartet qualified for nationals last year, which were held in Georgia, but did not go because of financial restraints.

"We didn't have much of a booster program in place last year," Hay said. "This year, we had a much better one and were prepared for this."

"Our coach (Dave McKinnis) didn't think we were ready for it last year," Carnahan said. "This past year has made a big difference in all of us."

The four boys qualified for nationals by surpassing the qualifying scores at the Region VII competition April 3 and 4 in Allentown.

Region VII competitors were from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Delaware.

"I know I'm much better than I was at this time last year," Carnahan said. "Last year, I wasn't in as good condition. That's something all of us worked on all year."

Hay, Carnahan, Cranmer and Wiest practiced from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. five days a week through last summer at the Butler Gymnastics Center. During the school year, they're at the facility for three hours a day, six days a week.

They all come from different high schools. Hay, 17, is a senior at Butler. Carnahan, 16, is a sophomore at Karns City. Cranmer, 16, is a sophomore at Seneca Valley, and Wiest, 16, is a sophomore at Moniteau.

Cranmer wasn't sure he would be involved in competition at all this spring. He hyperextended his right knee when he dismounted from the parallel bars during warm-ups at a competition in early February.

"The doctors couldn't tell if I fractured it or what," Cranmer said. "I wasn't sure how serious the injury was. I couldn't do anything for three weeks.

"I was still gonna try to make it to regionals, but I knew my chances were down," he added.

Cranmer wound up with an all-around score of 46.80. Carnahan had a 45.30 and Wiest had a 50.25. All three compete in Class II, which carries a minimum national qualifying score of 40.50.

Hay competes in Class I and had an all-around qualifying score of 45.60. The minimum national qualifying score was 42.50.

Because Wiest placed fifth overall at the regional, he earned a spot on the regional team and will have his traveling expenses paid.

The top six qualifiers in each class at the regional meet make the regional team. Wiest is the first Butler Gymnastics Club member to make a regional team.

"My goal was to finish among the top 15," Wiest said. "I thought I was capable of the top six, but didn't really think about it. I guess I'm nervous and excited.

"I'd love to win nationals, but I'm not going out there with that approach. It's going to be fun," he added.

More than 100 gymnasts in each class will be competing at the national meet.

Wiest was 5 years old when he started in gymnastics. Cranmer was 4, Hay was 6 and Carnahan was 9.

Now, they're facing a level of competition they've never seen.

"I just want to hit my routines, make the floor finals and go from there," Hay said.

How they got there

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Here is how Butler Gymnastics Club members Eddie Hay, Cody Carnahan, Dusty Cranmer and Chad Wiest fared at the Region VII meet to qualify for nationals:

-Eddie Hay

Placed sixth on floor and fifth on parallel bars

Received an all-around qualifying score of 45.60 in Class I (needed 42.50 to qualify for national)

-Cody Carnahan

Placed second on floor, second on vault and ninth on parallel bars

Received an all-around qualifying score of 45.30 in Class II (needed 40.50 to qualify for national)

-Dusty Cranmer

Placed eighth on floor and sixth on parallel bars

Received an all-around qualifying score of 46.80 in Class II (needed at least 40.50 to qualify for national)

-Chad Wiest

Placed third on floor, fifth on pommel horse, third on parallel bars and fourth on high bar

Received an all-around qualifying score of 50.25 in Class II (needed at least 40.50 to qualify for national)