The Arizona gymnastics team traveled to Chicago this weekend and took first place in the quad “Chicago Style” meet. They scored 195.950, making that their third highest score of the season.
They competed against Illinois State, Texas Woman’s and Pittsburgh on Saturday. Despite the rollercoaster of events, the Wildcats managed to pull out a score that was a whole point higher than second place.
Arizona started out the evening on vault, which has been the event it struggled with the majority of the season. However, it was the UA’s highest event of the night with a 49.125.
Aubree Cristello came up with highest vault of the meet scoring 9.875. Amber Womba and Kristin Klarenbach matched scores with a 9.850.
Moving into bars, the night became difficult due to Jordan Williams absence this week after sustaining an injury on her bar routine last weekend against Washington. With Williams out, coaches had to find replacements for bars, beam and floor.
“It was one of the most intense, as far as coaching and swapping line ups just to try and milk the team through and then to come through successfully was really nice. So I’m really proud of them,” Arizona head coach Bill Ryden said.
Shana Sangston stepped in on bars and performed last. With her debut on bars she came through scoring 9.725.
“She had never done a bar routine in her college career,” Ryden said. “She hit when the team needed her. It’s not that she just went, not only did she not fall but she went and hit.”
Even with one Arizona gymnast falling in the lineup, the team scored an overall 48.750. Allison Flores tied a gymnast from Pittsburgh for the highest score on bars with 9.825.
“Allie Flores won bar and this is her hometown,” Ryden said. “To do well in front of all those family and friends was really special for her. She had quite a cheering section in the stands.”
Moving onto beam, freshman Jessie Sisler was second in the lineup and watched Flores fall off, putting the team under pressure to perform. A bloody nose did not stop Sisler from competing and she scored a 9.750 for Arizona.
Shelby Edwards and Cristello shared the first place title in beam with 9.825, Edwards’ career high.
The last event of the night was floor where the team earned 49.100. Sisler performed again on floor and came out on top with Cristello and Lindsay Offutt from Pittsburgh sharing the first place title.
Cristello placed first and earned 39.350 in all-around for the meet and Flores came in third with 38.475.
On Saturday, Arizona will be at home competing against No. 9 Nebraska at 4 p.m.
“If you ask me what next week’s lineup is going to be, I have no idea because of the injuries,” Ryden said. “We are looking forward to the fact that it’s on Saturday and it’s at home because we might be able to get a little help there.”
