The No. 19 Arizona gymnastics team fell to No. 10 Oregon State on Saturday, 196.250-195.100, in front of 4,272 fans at OSU’s 10th annual DAM Cancer event in Corvallis, Ore.
The meet concluded in more than just a victory for OSU. DAM Cancer is an athletics initiative that raises breast cancer awareness and celebrates cancer survivors.
The GymCats opened the meet poorly, scoring a 48.625 total team score on bars. Selynna Felix-Terrazas led the Wildcats with a score of 9.775 with Allie Flores and Victoria Ortiz countering, both scoring a 9.750.
“Bars started out slow for us,” Arizona gymnastics head coach Bill Ryden said in a press release. “We had a few errors that we haven’t had in the previous meets. It wasn’t our best performance today.”
Following bars, the GymCats totaled 48.825 on vault behind Jessie Sisler and Gabby Laub’s scores of 9.800. Shelby Edwards added a score of 9.775 on vault as well.
“The second half really outshined the first half of the meet today,” Ryden said in a press release. “We showed up and competed, and I’m proud of them. This is definitely a meet that we will learn and grow from.”
The GymCats battled with a total team score of 48.825 on floor. Flores led the team with a score of 9.850, while Lexi Mills received a 9.800. It was Mills’ first time performing floor in her collegiate career.
The GymCats finished the meet on beam with a team score of 48.825. Flores once again led her team with a score of 9.825. Mills followed Flores with a score of 9.800, and Madison Cindric scored a 9.725.
The Wildcats were unable to break a 49.000 or better in the meet for the first time this season.
On the other hand, the Beavers were able to close the meet and hit all 24 of their routines. Sophomore Madeline Gardiner led OSU in the all-around competition, inching out Flores 39.275-39.150.
OSU was also able to score more points than the Wildcats in every single event in the meet. That cannot happen if the Wildcats want to continue to compete against tough Pac-12 Conference opponents. Otherwise, the losing will continue.
Up next, the GymCats will return home to face in-state and unranked rival ASU on Monday in McKale Center.
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