TUCSON, Ariz. — The GymCats will host Stanford on Saturday, January 27 at McKale Center. The meet is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. MST and will be live streamed
here.
Last week, Arizona won its home opener with a season high 196.500 against Sacramento State. The GymCats swept the individual awards with
Malia Hargrove placing first on vault with a 9.875 and on floor with a 9.90,
Sophie Derr was the bars champion with a 9.90, and
Alysen Fears placed first on beam (9.875), floor (9.90), and in the all-around (39.350)
A complete preview of Saturday's meet can be found below.
CATS SET TO HOST STANFORD: The GymCats will take on Stanford for the second home meet this season in McKale Center. The meet is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. MST on Saturday, January 27.
LAST WEEK: Arizona won its home opener with a season-high team score of 196.500 against Sacramento State. Three gymnasts earned career-high scores and the GymCats posted two season-high team scores on bars (49.125), beam (49.125), and tied their season-best on floor with a 49.400.
Alysen Fears won the all-around with a 39.350.
IN THE RANKINGS: After week 3, Arizona is ranked No. 19 overall in the Road to Nationals rankings.
- Vault: No. 34
- Uneven Bars: No. 25
- Balance Beam: No. 18
- Floor Exercise: No. 11
ALL-PAC-12: Senior
Malia Hargrove earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention on vault for the 2023 season. She finished the regular season ranked seventh in the Pac-12 and 23rd nationally with a 9.905 NQS on vault. That was her first career All-Conference honor.
FRESH FACES: The GymCats welcomed six freshmen to the team this season.
Sophie Derr,
Ainsley Greever,
Haley Havenor,
Sophia Maisel,
Abigayle Martin, and
Tirzah Wise are all freshmen.
FAMILIAR FACES: Arizona returns 15 gymnasts from last season. Among the 15 returners is redshirt senior
Malia Hargrove along with seven seniors including standouts
Jessica Castles and
Caroline Herry. Juniors
Alysen Fears,
Elizabeth LaRusso, and
Emily Mueller also return for Arizona following outstanding sophomore seasons.
2024 CAPTAINS: The GymCats will be led by
Elena Deets,
Caroline Herry, and
Bailey McCabe who will act as team captains in the 2024 season.
COACHING STAFF: The GymCats have a very accomplished coaching staff.
John Court enters his sixth year as head coach and 26th year on staff in Tucson. Associate head coach
Taylor Spears, the 2014 NCAA individual beam champion, is in her sixth season on Arizona's staff and has helped the beam team improve every year. Assistant coach Kylie Kratchwell enters her second year with the GymCats.
PRESEASON POLLS: Arizona was picked to finish eighth in the preseason Pac-12 coaches poll. In the WGCA preseason poll, the GymCats were picked to finish 22nd.
PRESEASON WATCH LIST: Junior
Alysen Fears and freshman
Abigayle Martin were selected to represent Arizona on the Pac-12 Preseason Watch List for the 2024 season.
- Fears competed in every meet last season for Arizona and earned career high marks on the uneven bars, balance beam, and floor, including three-straight meets with a career best 9.925 on bars.
- Martin enters her freshman year as a three-time National qualifier and was a member of the USA Gymnastics Developmental National Team in 2021. In 2022, Martin placed third on bars and beam at the Texas state championship. She also finished in fifth place at the 2022 Nastia Liukin Cup. Martin placed third on bars at the Level 10 championships in 2023.
