TUCSON, Ariz. — Arizona Gymnastics is set to face West Virginia for the final conference road meet of the season on Friday, February 28. The meet is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. MST in Morgantown and will be televised on ESPN+.
Last week, Arizona placed second in the Metroplex Challenge, a quad meet against Arkansas, Oregon State, and SEMO with an overall team score of 196.125.
A complete preview of Friday's meet can be found below.
GYMCATS TRAVEL TO WEST VIRGINIA: Arizona will take on West Virginia on Friday, February 28 for the final Big 12 conference road meet of the season.
IN THE RANKINGS: After week 8, Arizona ranked No. 20 overall in the Road to Nationals rankings.
- Vault: No. 26
- Uneven Bars: No. 23
- Balance Beam: No. 17
- Floor Exercise: No. 23
BIG 12 WEEKLY AWARDS:
- Gymnast of the Week
- Specialist of the Week
- Gymnast of the Week
- Specialist of the Week
FRESH FACES: The GymCats welcomed six freshmen to the team this season. Olivia Childs, Jessa Janicke, Aubrey Krohnfeldt, Amelia Rock, Jillian Silvers, and Teagan White are the talented freshman class.
FAMILIAR FACES: Arizona returns 13 gymnasts from last season. Among the 13 returners is fifth year senior Elena Deets along with three seniors including Alysen Fears, Elizabeth LaRusso, and Emily Mueller. Junior Emma Strom and sophomores Sophie Derr, Ainsley Greever, and Abigayle Martin also return to Arizona following outstanding 2024 seasons.
COACHING STAFF: The GymCats have a very accomplished coaching staff. John Court enters his seventh year as head coach and 27th year on staff in Tucson. Associate head coach Taylor Spears the 2014 NCAA individual beam champion, is in her seventh season on Arizona's staff and has helped the beam team improve every year. Assistant coach Kylie Kratchwell enters her third year with the GymCats. Shelby Martinez will begin her first year as an assistant coach this season.
PRESEASON POLLS: In the WGCA preseason poll, the GymCats were picked to finish 30th.
BIG 12 PRESEASON TEAM: Four GymCats were selected to the Big 12 Preseason Gymnastics Team.
- Fears earned preseason honors on three events. 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. 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.
