TUCSON, Ariz. –  The Arizona GymCats hosted No. 20 Washington on Friday, Jan. 18. Arizona set a new season high team score with a final score of 195.650, but Washington won the meet with a final score of 196.525. Eight GymCats earned season high scores and seven earned new career highs on Friday night.
 
"We challenged everybody to compete the way that they dream of tonight," said head coach John Court. "The changes that we made to the lineups worked and it was a fantastic step forward for our team. I'm happy with our improvements and performance tonight. Our depth is certainly improving with three of our freshmen competing tonight and we're only going to get better when we have more gymnasts competing. We're moving in the right direction and we're checking of milestones, which is what we wanted to do tonight."
 
GymCats Earn Season High Team Score
Arizona came out of the gate strong on vault to open the meet against Washington. Adra Parks, Maddi Leydin, and Courtney Cowles all earned 9.725 on vault. Freshman Asia Rose DuVernay made her floor debut, earning a career high of 9.700. Heather Swanson earned a 9.775, the highest vault score of the night for the GymCats.
 
After vault, the GymCats moved to the uneven bars where they tied their season high event score of 49.100. Haylie Hendrickson and Heather Swanson both earned a 9.750. Maddi Leydin and Danielle Spencer both earned 9.850, with Leydin earning a season high and tying her career high. Christina Berg shined on bars tonight, with her routine earning a 9.900 for the Cats.
 
Moving to the balance beam, Arizona continued their confidence and strength. Freshman Kennedi Davis debuted on beam and earned a career high of 9.750. Haylie Hendrickson earned a 9.700 and Maddi Leydin tied her season high score with a 9.725. Sydney Freidin and Courtney Cowles both set new season high scores of 9.850, with Freidin earning a career high.
 
The Cats earned a 49.025 on the floor exercise to finish the meet, with each gymnast earning a season high score on the event. Haylie Hendrickson opened for Arizona, earning a 9.700. Heather Swanson earned a 9.775. Courtney Cowles scores a 9.800 and Maddi Leydin scored a 9.850, both earning career high scores. Christina Berg anchored the lineup for the GymCats and earned a season and career high of 9.900.
 
Berg Earns a Pair of 9.900's
Junior Christina Berg earned two 9.900's tonight on the uneven bars and the floor exercise. She won first place on floor and tied for first place on the uneven bars with Washington's Madison Copiak. Berg set a new career high with a 9.900 on the floor exercise.
 
Leydin Places First in the All-Around
Junior Maddi Leydin took home first place in the all-around competition against Washington. Leydin's season high scores on the uneven bars, balance beam, and floor helped her earn a 39.150 and set a season high score in the all-around.
 
New Season Highs:
Christina Berg: FX – 9.900
Courtney Cowles: BB – 9.850; FX: 9.800
Kennedi Davis: BB – 9.750
Asia Rose DuVernay: V – 9.700
Sydney Freidin: BB – 9.850
Haylie Hendrickson: FX – 9.700
Maddi Leydin: UB – 9.850; BB – 9.725; FX – 9.850
Heather Swanson: FX – 9.775
 
New Career Highs
Christina Berg: FX – 9.900
Courtney Cowles: FX: 9.800
Kennedi Davis: BB – 9.750
Asia Rose DuVernay: V – 9.700
Sydney Freidin: BB – 9.850
Haylie Hendrickson: FX – 9.700
Maddi Leydin: UB – 9.850 (tied); FX – 9.850
 
The GymCats will host Cal next Saturday, Jan. 26 at 4:30 p.m. MST before travelling to Utah on Friday, Feb. 1.
 
Stay connected with Arizona Gymnastics!
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