TEMPE, Ariz. – The GymCats earned a point for the Territorial Cup after taking home a win against the Sun Devils, Monday, Feb. 22. With their highest road score of the season, the Wildcats beat their rivals 196.375-193.975.
“Tonight was a real team effort from start to finish, and the GymCats showed their resiliency and character throughout the competition,” said head coach Tabitha Yim. “We were proud to see our athletes have each other's backs, and it was exciting to see new faces stepping up with strong performances under pressure. The team continues to build, and we want to keep working, improving, and learning from each and every experience. We are excited to get back in front of our home crowd this Saturday and look forward to putting on a great show for our fans in our annual Think Pink meet against the Huskies.”
The meet was off to a hot start after the team captured their highest uneven bars score of the season with a 49.15. Arizona swept the podium with junior Krysten Howard taking first after posting a season high 9.875. Senior Lexi Mills followed with a season best 9.85. Taking third was junior Gabrielle Laub, with a 9.825. In fourth place were sophomore Kennady Schneider and freshman Dani Spener with 9.80's. Rounding out the lineup for the Wildcats was junior Selynna Felix-Terrazas with a 9.775.
In the second rotation senior Shelby Edwards led the GymCats capturing third place with a 9.80. Freshman Lauryn Mattson and sophomore Maddy Cindric both earned scores of 9.775. Jessie Sisler, along with Laub, posted scores of 9.75 to give the team a 98.00 going into the third rotation.
The GymCats introduced a few new faces into the floor lineup with performances by Howard and freshman Skyler Sheppard. The team gained momentum and the scores built throughout the lineup starting with Sheppard's 9.675 and closing with three 9.875's from Howard, Schneider and Sisler. Edwards and Mills also contributed strong performances with scores of 9.70 and 9.80, respectively.
Closing out the meet, Arizona earned its highest beam score of the season counting five scores above 9.80 to finish with a 49.25. Cindric earned the beam title and a career high 9.90. Behind her was Sisler with a season best, 9.875, and Mills with a 9.85. Edwards continues to show her consistency in the lead off position posting her sixth 9.80 or higher this season. Sheppard anchored the lineup and tied her season best 9.825.
The GymCats tallied seven #ARIZONASTICKS, with sticks from Schneider, Howard, Felix-Terrazas, Edwards, Cindric and Sisler.
Arizona will return to McKale this Saturday, Feb. 27 to take on the Washington Huskies at 4 p.m. The meet is the team's annual Think Pink meet to honor survivors, support fighters and to spread awareness about the importance of taking the necessary steps for detection and prevention of breast cancer. Doors open at 3 p.m. and pink pom poms will be given out to the first fans in the arena.
