TUCSON, Ariz. — Arizona Gymnastics is set for the Big 12 Championships on Saturday, March 22 in West Valley City, Utah. After an undefeated season at home, the GymCats were placed in session 2 which is reserved for the top four teams in the conference – Arizona, Arizona State, Denver, and Utah. Session 2 is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. MST and will be televised on ESPNU.
Last week, the GymCats took down Utah State on senior night with an overall score of 196.400. Arizona set a season high on floor of 49.425.
A complete preview of Saturday's meet can be found below.
GYMCATS SET FOR BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIPS: Arizona will take on Arizona State, Denver, and Utah in session 2 of the Big 12 Championships on Saturday, March 22 in West Valley City, Utah.
IN THE RANKINGS: After week 11, Arizona ranked No. 21 overall in the Road to Nationals rankings.
- Vault: No. 29
- Uneven Bars: No. 24
- Balance Beam: No. 20
- Floor Exercise: No. 28
BIG 12 WEEKLY AWARDS:
- Gymnast of the Week
- Specialist of the Week
- Gymnast of the Week
- Specialist of the Week
ALL-BIG 12 TEAMS: Three GymCats were selected for the All-Big 12 Teams –
Elena Deets,
Alysen Fears, and
Abigayle Martin.
- Deets was selected to the All-Big 12 beam team with an NQS of 9.885. After a strong regular season for the fifth year senior, Deets ranked 39th in the nation and fifth in the conference.
- Fears picked up All-Big 12 honors on bars with a 9.890 NQS. The senior ended the regular season ranked 38th nationally and third in the conference on bars.
- Martin was named to the all-around All-Big 12 team with an NQS of 39.315. The sophomore ranked 39th in the nation and fifth in the Big 12 for the all-around.
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
