TUCSON, Ariz. – The Arizona GymCats announced team awards for the 2020-21 season on Wednesday afternoon.  
 

Most Valuable Gymnast: Malia Hargrove
 
Hargrove earned the award for Most Valuable Gymnast after a standout sophomore season. She posted a 9.8 or better seven times on floor this year and posted a 9.9 three times, including at the NCAA Regional Semifinal in Salt Lake City. Over the season, she hit 28-out-of-32 routines and was the anchor on floor in eight meets. Hargrove's outstanding floor performances qualified her for the 2021 National Collegiate Women's Gymnastics Championships as an individual competitor on floor, the first individual GymCat to qualify for the NCAA Championships since 2016.
 

Most Consistent: Danielle Nosek
 
Nosek was awarded Most Consistent GymCat for her steady work on vault and floor throughout the season. She competed in every meet and scored above 9.725 on vault in 9-out-of-10 meets and above 9.750 on floor in seven meets. On floor, Nosek held the No. 2 position in the lineup the entire season, proving to be key to the GymCats' success on floor.
 

Most Improved: Laura Leigh Horton
 
Horton received the Most Improved award for competing during her senior season after battling injuries for her first three years with the GymCats. She competed in 9-of-10 meets this season and earned above a 9.750 on floor in seven meets, scoring a career-high of 9.850 at the Pac-12 Championships. Horton also competed on vault in eight meets in the lead-off position.
 

Freshman of the Year: Jessica Castles
 
Castles was named Freshman of the Year on the squad for her outstanding work on vault, beam, and floor. She competed in every meet, hitting 93% of her routines and never scored below a 9.70 on vault. On beam, Castles earned above 9.80 in nine meets and won the event four times. She scored above a 9.725 on floor in eight meets, posting a 9.825 or higher four times.
 

Jim Gault Coaches Award:  Avery Stauffacher and Libby Orman
 
Stauffacher and Orman were awarded the Jim Gault Coaches Award for their outstanding commitment to the program, being coachable, being positive influences, and for their athletic results. This award was brought back into the program this year by head coach John Court to honor the program's past. Stauffacher earned above a 9.70 on beam in eight meets and a career-best 9.85 twice this season. Orman scored 9.775 or higher on floor in nine meets, including four 9.850 scores and a career-high 9.90 at the NCAA Regional Semifinals.
 

Impact Performance Award: Elena Deets and Sirena Linton
 
Deets earned the Impact Performance Award for her bars routine at the Pac-12 Championships. She earned a 9.875 on bars, tying for first place on the event in Session 1 of the Pac-12 Championships. Deets earned a 9.875 on bars three times during the season, the highest bars score on the team this year. 
 
Linton was awarded with the Impact Performance Award for her beam routine at the NCAA Regional Semifinals. She scored a 9.875 on beam, helping the GymCats earn a season-best 49.200 on the event.
 

Life Skills Community Service: Payton Bellows and MacKinzie Kane
 
Bellows and Kane were awarded the Life Skills Community Service award for their dedication to community service.
 
Over her career, Bellows has volunteered 33 total community service hours, including six hours this year. She has donated to the 'Share the Warmth' drive and to a local holiday toy drive at Aviva Child Services. Bellows has participated in creating educational marketing videos and in a virtual KidCats Club visit. She also contributed to the SAAC COVID-19 Mask PSA video.
 
Kane has volunteered 36 total career hours, including nine hours this year. She donated toys to the Aviva Child Services toy drive with Bellows and served on the Student-Athlete COVID Concerns and Wellness Team.