The University of Arizona gymnastics team placed first in the GymCats season opener with a score of 194.925 at the American Gold Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Classic on Saturday, Jan. 4 in Oceanside, California.
Rutgers University fell just behind Arizona with 194.850, followed by Southern Utah University in third with 194.750 and Wilberforce University in fourth with 180.275. The GymCats excelled in each category with freshman Aubrey Krohnfeldt and junior Gianna Lenczner competing at Arizona for the first time.
Floor Exercise
The GymCats set the tone early with a 48.725 in the floor exercise, putting out an early lead. Abigayle Martin, Emily Mueller and Emma Strom all earned 9.775s in the first rotation of the night. The three were the leaders for the overall floor exercise.
Vault
The GymCats earned a 48.450 on vault for the second rotation. Strom came in strong again, scoring a 9.800 and senior Alysen Fears followed with a 9.700. Rutgers and Southern Utah shined in this rotation, with several gymnasts scoring 9.750 and above, putting the GymCats in third place at the end of the rotation.
Uneven Bars
The GymCats put up a score of 49.075 on rotation three and ended the rotation tied for second place. In her collegiate debut, Krohnfeldt delivered a solid 9.850. Sophie Derr scored a 9.800 and Fears ended the rotation with the first 9.900 of the evening. These stellar performances helped move the GymCats up in the ranks.
Balance Beam
Ending the night on beam secured the win for the GymCats who scored a 48.675. Lenczner posted a strong 9.850 in her collegiate debut. Martin tied her career high on beam with a 9.900, Arizona’s second of the meet. Elena Deets followed with a 9.875 to help secure the GymCats’ first-place spot and first victory of the season.
Looking ahead
Arizona will head to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to compete in the Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad Meet on Friday, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. where the GymCats will face off against Clemson University, the University of Michigan and North Carolina State University.
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