FIGHT OF THE WILDCAT: WEEK 3

SWEET HOME ARIZONA

After completing their first meet on the road at Texas Woman's University, the GymCats will return home to McKale to host Pac-12 rival, UCLA. The meet will take place on Saturday, Jan. 23 at 1 p.m. MST., with doors opening at 12 p.m.

Arizona is 2-0 under first year head coach, Tabitha Yim. This weekend, the Cats look to gain their third win of the season, and their first win over UCLA in Tucson since 2006.

MAKING A SPLASH   

Arizona's freshmen have made an extraordinary impact on the line-ups this season. In week one, freshmen Lauryn Mattson and Skyler Sheppard each won event titles against Michigan State. Mattson made her freshman debut on vault with an #ARIZONASTICK and captured the vault title with a score of 9.825. Sheppard dazzled the judges with a 9.825 on beam, earning her a first place spot on the podium.

The GymCat freshmen are making their mark this season at home and on the road. In addition to Mattson and Sheppard, Dani Spencer has contributed clutch bar performances, receiving scores of 9.725 at Michigan State, and a career high and third place score of 9.775 at TWU.

DEPTH IN THE CHARTS

Arizona has been able to take advantage of its depth in the first two meets of the season. Four GymCats contributed as specialists on three events last Sunday: senior Shelby Edwards (V, BB, FX), senior Lexi Mills (UB, BB, FX), junior Selynna Felix-Terrazas (V, UB, FX) and sophomore Maddy Cindric (V, BB, FX). Five of the GymCats showcased their work in two event lineups, including: senior Jessie Sisler (V and BB), junior Gabrielle Laub (V and UB), junior Krysten Howard (UB and BB) and sophomore Kennady Schneider (UB and FX). Freshman Lauryn Mattson has become a steady performer for the GymCats on vault, in addition to making her floor debut at TWU.

HEATING UP  

Two GymCats have won back-to-back event titles against Michigan State and TWU: junior Gabrielle Laub and sophomore Kennady Schneider. Laub garnered her first uneven bars title of the year at home with a 9.850, and her second title at TWU with a 9.825. Schneider, with her self-choreographed floor routine, received top marks in McKale earning a 9.825, and captured her second floor title at TWU with a 9.800.

ON THE AIR

Saturday's meet will be aired live on the Pac-12 Network with Brian Webber calling play-by-play and Eddie Umphrey as color analyst. Seven of Arizona's ten meets will be aired on a major television network this season, including six on the Pac-12 Network and one on Fox Sports. The Pac-12 Championships will also be aired live on the conference network.

MEET IN A MINUTE: ARIZONA VS MICHIGAN STATE

The Arizona women's gymnastics team opened the season in a big way on Friday, Jan. 8. In front of a crowd of 3,707, the GymCats took a victory over the Michigan State Spartans, 195.700-193.775. Freshman Lauryn Mattson started her career on a high note, with a first place finish and a 9.825 on the event. Tying her for first was sophomore, Maddy Cindric. Junior Gabrielle Laub contributed a score of 9.850 and a first place finish on the uneven bars. Skyler Sheppard was the second freshman of the night to take home an event title after scoring a 9.825. Sophomore Kennady Schneider closed out the competition with a first place finish on floor receiving a 9.825. The Wildcat's highlight performances moved them to No. 10 heading into week two.

MEET IN A MINUTE: ARIZONA AT TEXAS WOMAN'S

The Wildcats battled hard in Denton on Sunday, Jan. 17 to receive a win over Texas Woman's University, 193.475-192.450. The team improved to 2-0 for the season earning three event titles on uneven bars, balance beam, and the floor exercise. The Wildcats started strong and took an early lead in the first rotation on bars. The team swept the podium with first, second and third places. Junior Gabrielle Laub received her second bar title of the season with a score of 9.825, junior Selynna Felix-Terrazas earned second with a 9.80 and freshman Dani Spencer and senior Lexi Mills tied for third with a pair of 9.775. Sophomore Kennady Schneider garnered another floor victory with a dynamic routine for a 9.80. Senior Jessie Sisler earned her first beam title of the season finishing with a #ARIZONASTICK and a score of 9.85.

GYMCAT FACTS

• Arizona returns ten letterwinners including 2014 Pac-12 Vault Champion, Shelby Edwards and 2015 Pac-12 Floor Champion, Jessie Sisler.
• Senior Danielle Buchanan was recognized as the 2015 female recipient of the Pac-12 Leadership Award, a $3,000 scholarship for postgraduate study. She plans to attend Northwestern University's physical therapy school.
• The GymCat's schedule consists of five home and five away meets against Michigan State, UCLA, Stanford, Washington and Brigham Young (home); Texas Woman's, Utah, California-Berkeley, Arizona State and Oklahoma (away).

LOOKING AHEAD

The Wildcats will hit the road once again, this time to face the University of Utah at the Huntsman Center on Monday, Feb. 1. The meet will be at 6 p.m. MST and will be aired live on the Pac-12 Network.

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