The Arizona Gymnastics team were all smiles at their Colorado Tri-Meet as the Gymcats finished with 194.350 points and defeated Air Force (193.350) and Texas Woman’s University (191.975) at Cadet Fieldhouse on Sunday, Feb. 28, for their first victory of the season.
Arizona started the first rotation on the balance beam. Sophomore Zaza Brovendani got the Wildcats off to a strong start, posting a score of 9.825, the second highest score of the meet.
Fellow Gymcats Jessica Castles and Avery Stauffacher followed close behind, each posting scores of 9.800. The meet was still close after the first rotation. Arizona led the field with 48.325 points, Air Force was second with 48.075 and TWU scored a respectable 47.475.
The Gymcats then headed to floor exercise for the second rotation, where they started to create some separation from the field. Freshman Elena Deets performed a routine that was both elegant and difficult, which earned her a score of 9.825, tied for the highest score of the meet. Sophomore Malia Hargrove tumbled her way to a score of 9.800, tying two other gymnasts for the third-highest floor exercise routine.
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Vaulting was up next for the Gymcats and this time, Hargrove led the way. Hargrove extended Arizona’s lead by landing a score of 9.800, tying two other gymnasts for the highest score of the meet. Castles kept pace by landing a score of 9.700. At the end of the third rotation, Arizona led Air Force by 0.600 and TWU by 1.800.
Arizona dominated the fourth and final rotation on the uneven bars, with five out of the top six scores belonging to the Gymcats. Deets scored a meet high of 9.875, freshman Bailey McCabe finished second with a score of 9.850 and Hargrove tied for the third-highest score with 9.825. Their score of 49.150 was Arizona’s highest point total all season on the uneven bars.
The Gymcats led through all four rotations for the first time this season. Air Force’s Daija Stevenson led the meet in total points. TWU’s Madeline Gose scored a meet high of 9.825 on floor exercise.
The Gymcats will face Arizona State on March 6 at 4 p.m. MST at Desert Financial Arena, where they lost to ASU just one week ago.
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