It had already been a good season for the X-Cel Novice Optionals gymnastics team.

But the team members were determined to make it great.

The squad, which trains in Cranberry Township, brought home a team state title from the Pennsylvania Championships, held last month in Williamsport.

The effort was led by two individual state winners - 18-year old Kim McCracken won the floor exercise with a score of 9.25 out of a possible 10 and Paige Rogers, 14, won the uneven bars with a 9.25.

X-Cel scored 109.6 points as a team.

It is the program's second title in the last three years. It also claimed the championship in 2003.

For McCracken, the state title closes out her 10-year career with X-Cel. She will graduate from Seneca Valley High School in June.

"The state title was a great way to end my career here," she said. "I'm really happy with it, though I was a bit surprised that I won in the floor exercise because it's not my best event. I was ahead in the vault until the very end when a girl beat my score."

McCracken also won a state title in her all-around score and floor exercise in 2003.

Likewise, Rogers' title was not her first. She also won a state crown in the floor exercise last year.

"The most challenging part about the (uneven bars) is the arm strength you need to have," said Rogers. "I didn't use to be that good, but I'm proud of myself after winning a state title."

The X-Cel team consists of 12 girls from the Seneca Valley and Mars school districts.

Ranging in age from 10 to 18, the gymnasts competed in 10 invitationals before qualifying for the state event at a sectional meet in late March.

The team members practice 12 hours in an average week and that hard work paid off.

X-Cel was 10-0 at invites and all 12 gymnasts qualified for states.

Getting to the state competition is a feat in itself.

"The section meet includes teams from the State College area and west," said head coach Bob Blanchette. "That's a lot of teams."

McCracken also took second in the vault and in her all-around score.

Seventeen-year old Kelli Hartman was second in the uneven bars, as was 15-year old Beth Bishop.

Taylor Hartley, 13, took third in the floor exercise while Paige McLean took second in the vault, parallel bars, floor exercise and all-around in the 13-year old age group.

Other members of the team are Brianne Schwartz, Corissa Culichia, Chelsea Wagner, Rebecca Parey, Meredith Kendall and Alexandria Gambill.

Blanchette is assisted by Lindsey Bennardo. He has coached gymnastics for 27 years, the last six coming with X-Cel.

"The number (of youth gymnasts) who train here has picked up simply because there are so few high school teams around anymore," Blanchette said. "This team gives the kids an outlet to compete in gymnastics."