TUCSON, Ariz. – Arizona Gymnastics has placed four GymCats on the Big 12 Gymnastics Preseason Team for six total selections. Arizona's six selections to the preseason team are tied for second-most with Utah.
 
Alysen Fears leads the team with preseason All-Big 12 honors on vault, bars, and in the all-around. Elena Deets was a unanimous selection to the beam preseason Big 12 team. Elizabeth LaRusso was named to the preseason vault team while Emily Mueller earned preseason all-conference honors on floor.
 
Fears earned preseason honors on three events - vault, bars, and the all-around. The senior from Murrieta, California earned a career high 9.95 on bars in two meets and posted a career best 39.475 in the all-around on multiple occasions. She posted 9.90s on vault, beam, and floor to round out her career high scores. Fears closed out the 2024 season ranked No. 36 nationally in the all-around and on bars.
 
Deets was named a unanimous selection on beam after a breakout season in 2024 on the event. The fifth year from Maple Grove, Minnesota set a career high of 9.975 on beam to help the GymCats set the program beam record against Washington last season. She finished the season ranked No. 36 on beam nationally.
 
LaRusso earned preseason honors on vault. Despite not competing last year due to injury, the senior from Las Vegas, Nevada set a career high mark of 9.875 in two meets during the 2023 season.
 
Mueller garnered preseason all-conference honors on floor. A senior from Cary, North Carolina, Mueller earned a career high of 9.925 in two meets last season.
 
Arizona will kick off the 2025 season at the Pacific Coast Challenge on Jan. 4. The GymCats' first home meet is set for Jan. 17 against Air Force.
 
To purchase tickets for the 2025 season, visit ArizonaWildcats.com or call 520-621-CATS.