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The gymnastics rivalries had almost become predictable.

Woodinville would battle Bothell and dark horse contender Inglemoor for the KingCo 4A team spot at state. In KingCo 3A, perennial contenders Newport and Issaquah would take their rivalry all the way to the Tacoma Dome.

But Newport and Issaquah have moved up to 4A, and the battle for KingCo 4A’s single state berth has become a lot more crowded.

“We’ve always been really familiar with 3A,” said Issaquah coach Ryan Fleisher. “It’s hard to set a goal … when you don’t know what your playing field is.”

Woodinville’s goal is the same: get to state, win a third consecutive title there, and have fun doing it. The Falcons got off to a good start on Dec. 4, posting a whopping 178.75 score in their season opener against Juanita.

Woodinville junior Hailey Wells, fourth in the all-around at last year’s state meet, and newcomer Karin Ochsner gave the Falcons a 1-2 punch, each averaging more than 9.0 per apparatus.

Woodinville coach Kim Fleming said she’s excited to see Issaquah and Newport in 4A, but worries that the depth of KingCo 4A means gymnasts who deserve to compete at state will be left behind.

“My first reaction to it is that I like that they’re up in our league,” Fleming said. “But at the same time, it makes for a lot harder competition, and the sad part to me is that it’s still just one team that goes to state.”

Although Woodinville lost several members of last season’s state team and has battled early season injuries, they’ve also gained sophomore Gina Puccio, who transferred from Bothell.

Winning KingCo 4A may be more challenging than winning the state meet, Inglemoor coach James Evans said.

“Whoever walks out of this district is probably going all the way,” he said.

Evans hopes Inglemoor will be that team. The Vikings return junior Amy Sisk and have a second solid all-around competitor in sophomore Becca Berge.

Newport coach Farrah Griffin welcomes the challenge.

“No worries here,” she said. “We can only control our team and have everyone else worry about what they worry about.”

Newport won its third consecutive 3A/2A state championship last season, but two months later an automobile accident took the life of senior Taryn Gillies. Since then, the Knights have become closer as a team, Griffin said.

Issaquah, the 3A/2A state runner-up last year, has lost some depth. But the Eagles return sophomores Olivia Goree and Risa Fukuda, who had strong showings at state last year, along with seniors Ashley Lester, Kelly Richards and Kelsea Neal.

The departure of Newport and Issaquah leaves a vacuum in KingCo 3A. Bainbridge coach Cindy Guy, whose Spartans won the state title in 2005 but placed fifth last February, sees an opportunity.

“We’re pretty excited about what the competition’s going to be,” Guy said. “It’s going to help us out for sure.”

Guy expects her team to be competitive with Auburn Mountainview and Mercer Island. Bainbridge gymnastics have a tradition to uphold: The Spartans haven’t lost a regular-season meet in seven years, and returners like senior Annie Zuckerman and sophomore Anne Schwartz want to keep it that way.

Mountainview, led by senior Ashley Perkovich and junior Alexi Morton, has been steadily ascending the state ranks. The Lions were fifth at state in 2007 and third in 2008.

Some coaches inspire by cajoling, some yell, some make foolish promises. Evans made a deal with his team: If Inglemoor makes it to state, he will do a back handspring on a high beam.

“That’ll be interesting,” Evans mused. “My life might come to an end.”