There’s nothing better than rolling out in style.
After four years of rigorous practice and competition, it would only seem fitting that the Arizona gymnastics team honor their seniors’ final meet in McKale Center with a victory against Denver.
Amidst the determination and emotion, seniors Alexis Greene, Beamer Bergeson, Erica Anderson and Bree Workman came out on top and waved goodbye to McKale Center with a sense of accomplishment.
“”It still hasn’t completely set in that that was our last meet in there,”” Bergeson said, “”but I was so happy with the way things went.””
The Gymcats defeated the Pioneers 195.350-195.025, but Friday’s meet was no walk in the park.
Arizona utilized some slight lineup changes entering the competition in an attempt to gain an edge on a Denver team that had beaten it the past four years.
“”We needed a bigger opening punch on every event because we’ve been starting off low, trying to build,”” said UA head coach Bill Ryden. “”It’s so much easier if you can just hit it hard off the first one and try to maintain.””
Greene started off the meet for Arizona on vault and delivered the sort of momentum-driver Ryden was expecting. Greene posted a 9.775 on the event, just shy of Workman’s 9.875.
It was freshman Deanna Graham, however, who would take the event for the Wildcats with a 9.900.
Arizona struggled on bars, but Bergeson and Greene kept the team in the running with a 9.825 and 9.850 respectively.
Heading into the third turn, the Gymcats trailed the Pioneers 98.025-97.950, but were heading into their comfort zones on bar and floor, where they hoped to turn the tide.
Before the final floor event, the Gymcats led 146.750-146.200, and the team knew they had to be spot-on to seal the deal.
“”It was pretty nerve-racking,”” Bergeson said. “”Me and (Greene) were calculating the score the whole time and knew it would all come down to floor.””
Sophomore Colleen Fisher came out strong for the Gymcats, posting a 9.800. Bergeson would follow with another 9.800, along with redshirt junior Sarah Tomczyk. Workman would close the event and her stay in McKale center with nothing shy of a career-best 9.875.
“”Beamer’s been trying for four years to get in the floor lineup, and this was … the first time that I was like, ‘This is your spot,'”” Ryden said.
Family and fans honored the seniors after the meet to show support and thanks to Greene, Bergeson, Anderson and Workman.
After the ceremony, Dwayne and Mary Greene, parents of Alexis Greene, shared a bit of the emotions that filled McKale Center.
“”I am so proud of her. I’ve watched her since she was 3,”” Mary Greene said. “”(To) go through this, and to see it culminate where she was very successful and loved being here at Arizona, I couldn’t be any prouder.””
