Jan. 12, 2013
Photo Gallery 
COMPLETE RESULTS
TUCSON, Ariz. - The Arizona women's gymnastics team took second in the first home meet of the season in front of a record high crowd of 1,890 fans. Stanford won the meet with a score of 196.025, followed by the Cats with a 195.850, then Illinois with a 193.750 and San Jose State with a 192.550.
The Cats had a little bit of difficulty with landings on vault, posting a 48.650. Senior Aubree Cristello posted the highest score for Arizona, tying for third place with a 9.775.
"You have to land a one trick event, and if you don't you don't have success. We weren't able to do it tonight, and therefore we got the score we could given the circumstances," Ryden said.
The bar team made up for the vault landings, however, sticking routines for the second consecutive score of 49.100. Sophomore Allison Flores started the lineup with a 9.800, followed by freshman Lexi Mills with her second 9.775 on the event. Senior Molly Quirk then posted a 9.850, and Cristello continued the upward trend earning third place with a 9.875. Sophomore Danielle Buchanan bookended the event with a second score of 9.800.
"Once again I am very happy with bars. I continue to be more and more impressed with both Lexi and Danielle. Those two are really stepping up, and we wouldn't be where we are today without their hard work," Ryden said.
On beam the Wildcats earned a team total 48.700. The highlight on the event was once again Cristello, who posted a new career high score of 9.900.
"Aubree has grown so much; when she was a freshman she was our leadoff beam worker. She is working so hard, and obviously is living proof that working hard pays off," Ryden said.
The most exciting part of the meet came in the last event; the team posted a total 49.400 - the highest floor total since 2004 and going down as the 10th best floor performance in program history.
"Tonight goes to show where we are going on floor. We have a great mix of youth and seniority. I've all along felt that we've had a great floor team. Not only does this validate that, but when we're on everyone is going to be impressed," Ryden said.
Flores tied her career high 9.800 to start the lineup, followed by a twin score from junior Shana Sangston. Junior Jordan Williams performed floor for the first time in the McKale Center earning a 9.850, and Quirk posted a new career high 9.900. Sophomore Kristin Klarenbach chilled the crowd with a score of 9.925 to tie for first with Cristello, who also earned a 9.925.
The perfect icing on the cake for Cristello was a first place all-around score of 39.475 - tying her career high for the third time.
"To score this high with the vault that she had tonight shows how good Aubree really is. She is at her best right now, and I really believe she is going to have an amazing senior season," Ryden said.
Flores and Williams also competed in the all-around, earning scores of 38.850 and 38.475, respectively.
The Cats hope to take their momentum to Denton, Texas next weekend, taking on Texas Woman's and Wisconsin Whitewater on Saturday, January 19 at 7:00p.m. CT.
