TUCSON, Ariz. – For the second week in a row the No. 21 Arizona GymCats earned a new season high, this week scoring a 196.325 against No. 3 Utah. It wasn't enough to combat Utah's final score of 197.550, but the Cats leave McKale on a high note, with nine out of 11 gymnasts taking home season highs tonight, and seven of those nine also taking home new season highs.
 
"It was a great night for the Wildcats." said head coach John Court. "We came out strong. We were energized after Courtney Cowles great vault and it was only up from there. We have a long week in front of us, and we need to make sure that what is going well keeps going well, and we need to improve on what currently isn't going well."
 
Arizona Shows Their Strengths:
The Cats came out of the gate strong, earning a new season high team score of 49.175 on vault. Maddi Leydin started the competition by tying her season and career high score of 9.750, followed by Courtney Cowles who earned a new season and career high of 9.800. Lauryn Mattson and Madison Cindric both contributed 9.800's, and sophomore Heather Swanson earned a new season high score of 9.825.
 
However it was freshman Payton Bellows that shinned on vault tonight. She earned a new season and career high of 9.950, a score that hasn't been seen by an Arizona gymnast since Allison Flores and Kristin Klarenbach in 2014.
 
As Arizona moved to the uneven bars, they continued with the motivation. The Cats earned a new season high score of 49.200, and three out of six competitors earned new season highs (Berg, Hendrickson, and Leydin).  Sophomore Christina Berg anchored the uneven bars for Arizona earning a score of 9.900.
 
The balance beam was the only area where Arizona struggled tonight. With seniors Kennady Schneider and Victoria Ortiz scoring in the low 9.300's, it was left to the rest of the team to pick up the slack. Sophomore Maddi Leydin contributed a solid 9.750, junior Haylie Hendrickson earned a new season high score of 9.825, and senior Madison Cindric tied her season high with a 9.875.
 
Despite the struggles on beam, the GymCats hit their final rotation with fire in their eyes. They posted a team score of 49.425 on floor, one of the best floor scores that Arizona has seen in over 15 years. (Next highest being a 49.475 against Washington in 2002).  Five of the six competitors earned new season highs, and four of those five also earned new career highs.
 
Maddi Leydin started on floor, scoring a 9.800, followed by Christina Berg who earned a 9.825. Next up were Madison Cindric and Payton Bellows who posted a pair of 9.875's, and then Kennady Schneider and Lauryn Mattson who posted a pair of 9.925's.
 
Cats Earn First Place on Three of Four Events:
Arizona tied Utah for the first place title on vault, bars, and floor.
 
Freshman Payton Bellows brought out the big guns with her 9.950 on vault, tying Utah's MaKenna Merrel-Giles for first. Sophomore Christina Berg earned a new career high of 9.900 on the uneven bars, tying for first place with Kari Lee from Utah, and junior Lauryn Mattson and senior Kennady Schneider split the first place title three ways with a score of 9.925 (tied with Utah's MaKenna Merrell-Giles).  
 
Cindric and Leydin Compete in the All-Around
Madison Cindric and Maddi Leydin once again were all-arounders for Arizona. Madison Cindric brought home a new career high all-around score of 39.400, earning her the second place title in the all-around competition. Cindric scored a 9.800 on vault, 9.850 on bars, 9.875 on beam, and a 9.875 on floor.
 
Maddi Leydin earned an all-around score of 39.150, scoring a 9.750 on vault, 9.850 on bars, 9.750 on beam, and a 9.800 on floor.
 
New Season Highs:
Bellows: V – 9.950; FX – 9.875
Berg: UB – 9.900; FX – 9.825
Cindric: BB – 9.875 (Tied); FX – 9.875; AA – 39.400
Cowles: V – 9.800; BB – 9.725
Hendrickson: UB – 9.825 (Tied); BB – 9.825
Leydin: V – 9.750 (Tied); UB – 9.850
Mattson: V – 9.800 (Tied); FX – 9.925
Schneider: FX – 9.925
Swanson: V – 9.825
 
New Career Highs:
Bellows: V – 9.950; FX – 9.875
Berg: UB – 9.900; FX – 9.825
Cindric: FX – 9.875; AA – 39.400
Cowles: V – 9.800
Leydin: V – 9.750 (Tied); UB – 9.850
Mattson: FX – 9.925
Schneider: FX – 9.925 (Tied)