Event: Arizona v. Arizona State
Date: Monday, February 16 // 7 p.m. (MST)
Location: Tucson, Ariz.
Live Stats: HERE
TV: Pac-12 Network
Tickets: HERE
TUCSON, Ariz. – The Arizona gymnastics team will host in state rival Arizona State University Monday, Feb. 16 in McKale. The No. 19 Wildcats are returning home after a road loss to No. 10 Oregon State but are looking for another win at home next Monday against the Sun Devils.
“We’re going to have more practice days leading up to this meet than we have been able to have all season,” said head coach Bill Ryden. “Mentally, we just want to stay focused. This meet is just another meet so we will need to stay in our bubble and take it one routine at a time. The team loves the home fans so we are looking forward to being home once again.”
The meet will be aired on the Pac-12 Network. Live stats will be available during the meet. There will also be updates on Twitter @AZGymnastics and updates after each event on Facebook.com/ArizonaGymnastics.
Scouting the Opposition:
The Arizona State Sun Devils are just coming off a 197.825-194.100 loss to No. 3 Utah. The Sun Devils returned 11 gymnasts to this year’s roster and welcomed transfer student, Taylor Allex. Last week against Utah Allex posted the fourth highest all-around score in the last five years of ASU gymnastics and the highest score since 2010. Arizona State has an overall record of 1-7 and they are 0-3 in Pac-12 competition.
2014 Arizona Review:
The Wildcats advanced to their 28th consecutive NCAA Regional Championships. Finishing sixth in the competition, the Wildcats received a final score of 194.825. Arizona finished the season ranked No. 21 in the nation.
Arizona was led by junior Allie Flores who was the lone all-around competitor at the NCAA Regional competition. Flores earned a score of 39.200 at Regionals. Last season, she competed in nine all-around competitions making it her first year as an all-around competitor. She also was named First Team All-Conference.
Flores was joined by current junior Shelby Edwards as Pac-12 Vault Co-Champions. Edwards placed fourth on vault at the NCAA Regional Competition. Current senior, Kristin Klarenbach placed fifth on floor at Regionals as well.
Look Out for New Gymcats:
The Wildcats added three new faces to the team this season including Tucson native, Victoria Ortiz. Alongside Ortiz is Madison Cindric who comes from Lantana, Tex., and Kennady Schneider from Henderson, Nev. Ryden anticipates all three gymnasts to make immediate impacts on the lineups this season.
Pre-season Rankings:
The Arizona gymnastics team will begin the season ranked No. 21 in the 2015 Women’s Pre-Season Coaches Poll. The Wildcats are one of seven Pac-12 teams to be ranked in the top 25 including No. 5 UCLA, No. 6 Utah, No. 10 Stanford, No. 11 Oregon State and No. 14 California.
Ryden’s Record:
Head coach Bill Ryden finished out the 2014 season with an overall record of 202-203-3.
Looking Ahead:
After hosting Arizona State the GymCats will have a bye week followed by another home meet against California. The meet will be held on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. The meet against California will be the team’s annual Pink Meet to support awareness of breast cancer. The meet will be held aired live on the Pac-12 Network.
