TUCSON, AZ – A season-high team score of 196.100 propelled the Arizona Gymnastics team to an upset victory over No. 15 California (195.325) on Friday night in McKale Center. Cal was the highest-ranked opponent the GymCats have defeated under head coach Tabitha Yim, who is in her second season with the program. 

The score of 196.100 bested a 195.850 posted against Iowa State last month in McKale, which was the previous season high. Arizona has now won three of its four home meets on the season.
 
"We started off really strong on vault, and you could feel the momentum carrying us throughout the night", said head coach Tabitha Yim. "We entered floor with one of our highest team totals this year, and it took a lot of heart from our girls to finish strong the way they did. We're definitely making steps in the right direction, but there is still plenty of room to grow as we finish off the season."
 
The GymCats took the lead early when they earned a team score of 49.125 on vault, a new season high. After being out for an injury for the past three weeks, senior Selynna Felix-Terrazas returned to the vault lineup and earned a score of 9.725. Freshman GymCats Heather Swanson and Jenny Leung both came up big by earning new season and career highs, Swanson with a 9.875 and Leung with a 9.825. Sophomores Skyler Sheppard and Lauryn Mattson also tied their season and career highs by earning a 9.875 (Sheppard) and 9.825 (Mattson).  
 
Arizona brought out the big guns during the second rotation when they scored a 49.225 team score on bars. Victoria Ortiz and Gabby Laub both tied their season highs of 9.900 tonight, each earning a new season high in the process. Krysten Howard earned a new season high with a 9.875 and Christina Berg contributed a 9.850 to the final score.
 
Entering the third rotation Arizona held the lead with a score of 98.350 to Cal's 97.500.  Krysten Howard was a strong component to the overall team score when she came up with a 9.875, earning a new season high and tying her career high. Victoria Ortiz also earned a new season and career high on beam with a 9.850 and Kennady Schneider and Haylie Hendrickson both contributed a 9.800.
 
Arizona finished the meet strong while on floor. They earned a team score of 49.175 with help from key components Kennady Schneider, Skyler Sheppard, and Lauryn Mattson. Kennady Schneider came up big when she earned a new season and career high of 9.925, Skyler Sheppard tied her season and career high with a 9.875, and Lauryn Mattson earned a new season high of 9.850. Heather Swanson also earned a new season and career high with a 9.800.
 
New Season Highs:
V: Mattson (9.825-tied), Sheppard (9.875-tied), Leung (9.825), Swanson (9.875)
UB: Howard (9.875), Laub (9.9), Ortiz (9.9-tied)
BB: Schneider (9.8), Hendrickson (9.8), Howard (9.875) , Ortiz (9.85)
FX: Mattson (9.85), Swanson (9.8) , Sheppard (9.875-tied) , Schneider (9.925)
 
New Career Highs:
V: Mattson (9.825-tied), Sheppard (9.875-tied), Leung (9.825), Swanson (9.875)
UB:  Howard (9.875), Laub (9.9-tied), Ortiz (9.9-tied)
BB: Schneider (9.8-tied), Hendrickson (9.8), Howard (9.875-tied) , Ortiz (9.85)
FX: Mattson (9.85), Swanson (9.8) , Sheppard (9.875-tied) , Schneider (9.925)
 
For continued coverage of Arizona Gymnastics, follow the team at arizonawildcats.com/gymnastics, on Facebook at facebook.com/ArizonaGymnastics, and on Twitter @AZGymnastics.