SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – No. 23 Arizona Gymnastics traveled to No. 4 Utah on Friday night. The GymCats fought hard to earn a final score of 195.400, but Utah earned a 197.075 to win the meet.  
 
"I'm proud of the team of how we stayed together after a slow start on bars," commented head coach John Court. "We showed incredible growth tonight and it was great to finish our last two events over a 49.000. The beam team closed it out in front of 15,000 people, they were tenacious!"
 
Arizona Earns Above 49.000 on the Balance Beam and Floor
The GymCats finished the meet in Salt Lake City strong, earning a 49.075 on floor and a 49.125 on the balance beam. Arizona outscored Utah on the beam, 49.125-48.925, to end the meet. Arizona earned a season high score on the balance beam and earned a score above 49.000 on the floor exercise for the second time this season.
 
GymCats Dazzle on the Balance Beam
Four GymCats earned season high scores on the balance beam against Utah. Maddi Leydin kicked off the rotation for Arizona earning a season high of 9.750. Leydin was followed by Jenny Leung and Kennedi Davis' season and career high performances of 9.800. Sydney Freidin earned a 9.825 and Haylie Hendrickson scored a 9.775. Courtney Cowles anchored the rotation for the Cats, earning a season high score of 9.875.
 
Cowles earned second placed on beam with her score of 9.875. Freidin and Hendrickson both tied for third place with Utah's MaKenna Merrell-Giles and Adrienne Randall, all earning a 9.825.
 
Courtney Cowles Earns Meet MVP for Arizona
Junior Courtney Cowles earned the title of Meet MVP on Friday night. Cowles set two season high scores and one career high. She earned a season and career high of 9.825 on the floor exercise. Her 9.875 season high performance on the balance beam was the highest score on the event for the GymCats.
 
"I just wanted to do my best for the team on each event and have some fun," said Courtney Cowles. "I am so proud of every one of my teammates, I couldn't do it without them."
 
New Season Highs:
Courtney Cowles: BB – 9.875; FX – 9.825
Kennedi Davis: BB – 9.800
MacKinzie Kane: V – 9.725
Maddi Leydin: BB – 9.750
Jenny Leung: BB – 9.800
 
New Career Highs
Courtney Cowles: FX – 9.825
Kennedi Davis: BB – 9.800
MacKinzie Kane – V – 9.725
Jenny Leung: BB – 9.800
 
Arizona will return home next week to host Oregon State on Friday Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. MST for their annual Think Pink Meet to honor breast cancer awareness.
 
Stay connected with Arizona Gymnastics!
You can follow the team at arizonawildcats.com/gymnastics, on Facebook (Facebook.com/ArizonaGymnastics), Twitter (@ArizonaGymCats) and Instagram (@arizonagymnastics).