COMING UP: PAC-12 CHAMPIONSHIPS
Arizona has earned the No. 7 seed for the 2016 Pac-12 Gymnastics Championship on Saturday, Mar. 19 in Seattle, Wash. The Wildcats will compete in the first session to take place at 1 p.m. MST against Stanford, Arizona State and Washington.
SCOPING THE COMPETITION IN SESSION ONE
Washington
National Rank: No. 17
Season High: 196.650
Coach: Joanne Bowers (10th season)
Top All-Arounder (season high): Allison
Northey (39.550), Joslyn Goings (39.375)
Stanford
National Rank: No. 19
Season High: 197.400
Coach (year): Kristen Smyth (15th season)
Top All-Arounder (season high): Elizabeth
Price (39.675)
Arizona State
National Rank: N/R
Season High: 194.725
Acting Coach: Ralph Rosso
Top All-Arounder (season high): Allie Salas
(39.100)
HOW SWEET IT IS
Junior Krysten Howard has proven to be a dominant force for the Wildcats. Howard has been a consistent performer on the uneven bars, balance beam and floor. She has earned season and career highs on each event this season of 9.875. on bars and beam and a 9.90 on floor. She has hit 17/20 routines this season.
IN THE RANKINGS
Arizona has held strong this season, beinga Top-25 ranked team eight weeks this season. With an RQS of 196.155 and a team average of 195.775 the GymCats are currently ranked at No. 20. The ranks this season have consisted of: Week 1- No. 10, Week 2- No. 29, Week 3- No. 20, Week 4- No. 20, Week 5- No. 27, Week 6- No. 20, Week 7- No. 25 , Week 8- No. 18 and Week 9- No. 21.
THE YIM ERA BEGINS
First year head coach, Tabitha Yim has much to be proud of this after taking over the program. In her first year she attarcted the largest crowds in Arizona Gymnastics histroy, consistently stayed a Top-25 team, and will lead the GymCats into the post season. Yim's philosophy is based on five pillars: balance, commitment, passion, family and belief.
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NUMBERS TO REMEMBER
•2,619 average attendance, 3,707 max. attendance the highest in program history
•Over 375,000 views of Arizona Gymnastics' Whip Nae Nae video on YouTube
•In the rankings: No. 29 (V), No. 23 (UB), No. 11 (BB), No. 28 (FX)
•Event team averages: 48.853 (V), 49.005 (UB), 48.903 (BB), 49.015 (FX)
BUCHANAN RETURNS TO THE LINEUP
A highlight of Senior Night was the return of senior Danielle Buchanan in the lineup and her irst performance in McKale this season when she performed an exhibition routine on beam and finished with an #ARIZONASTICK.
DEPTH IN THE CHARTS
Arizona has been able to take advantage of its depth in the first four meets of the season. Five GymCats have contributed as specialists on three events: senior Shelby Edwards (V, BB, FX), senior Lexi Mills (UB, BB, FX), senior Jessie Sisler (V, 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: junior Gabrielle Laub (V and UB), junior Krysten Howard (UB and BB), sophomore Kennady Schneider (UB and FX) and freshman Lauryn Mattson (V, FX). Freshmen Skyler Sheppard and Dani Spencer have appeared consistently in the lineups as event specialists on beam and the uneven bars, respectively.
MEET IN A MINUTE: ARIZONA VS BYU
The Arizona women's gymnastics team conculded thier regular season competition, Fri., March 11 in McKale. Starting on the vault, freshman Lauryn Mattson, sophomore Maddy Cindric, Edwards and Sisler tied for first place after all receiving scores of 9.85. Mattson's score was a career high, and for Sisler, a season high. The Wildcats' momentum continued onto the uneven bars when sophomore Kennady Schneider started the rotation off with an #ARIZONASTICK and a 9.75. Mills and Laub earned first place on the event with 9.875's, a new career high for Mills. Mills was on fire Friday night as she performed a nearly flawless beam routine. She earned a season best 9.875. Sisler tied her teammate with another 9.875 later in the lineup, earning them both first place spots on the podium. The final rotation did not disappoint as the GymCats recorded two 9.90's back-to-back from Sisler and Howard. Howard's score became a new career best. In third place was Schneider with a 9.875.
