The University of Arizona gymnastics team entered its first Big 12 Championship with high hopes, having won seven of its eight single-team meets before the championship. The Wildcats competed on Saturday, March 22 in the Maverik Center in West Valley City, Utah. Despite one of the program’s best conference championship performances to date, the Wildcats still fell short to the University of Utah, who secured the first overall position at the end of the championship.
Arizona men’s basketball has had a tremendous run to end its season, making it to both the Big 12 Tournament Championship and the Sweet 16 in March Madness. While both these outings saw the Wildcats fall short of their respective titles, fifth-year guard Caleb Love demonstrated his impact for Arizona. Love ended his collegiate career in high-scoring fashion during Arizona’s 100-93 loss against No. 1 Duke University on Thursday, March 27, in the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Team: Gymnastics
The University of Arizona gymnastics team showed out in the Big 12 Championship meet, scoring their second-highest meet total of the year with a 196.675. Despite the outing, the Wildcats ultimately fell to the Utes’ 197.775. During the regular season, the Utes were the only team to defeat the Wildcats in a single team meet. Their Feb. 7 meeting saw the Wildcats fall 197.675 to 196.125.
Arizona would still post stellar outings from both seniors and freshmen to constantly compete for the title. Performances from seniors Elena Deets, Elizabeth LaRusso, Alysen Fears and Emily Mueller all played crucial roles, demonstrating Arizona’s discipline and persistence for success.
Deets appeared on the uneven bars and balance beam, putting up 9.875 and 9.850, respectively. LaRusso competed in the vault and floor rotations, scoring a 9.850 for both outings. Fears appeared in every event, with her best outings coming on uneven bars and floor, posting a 9.875 for both events. Fears provided the crucial edge for Arizona’s second-place finish while also getting the push from another all-around senior in Mueller. Mueller posted three 9.800’s on uneven bars, balance beam and floor.
While the senior edge aided in Arizona’s final position, other stars made their voices heard. Abigayle Martin would be the final all-around gymnast, posting a combined 39.350, leading with the team, meet and career high of 9.925 on the opening balance beam.
Freshmen Amelia Rock, Aubrey Krohnfeldt and Jessa Janicke shined in their postseason debuts. Rock put up a solid 9.825 on the balance beam. Krohnfeldt competed on uneven bars, scoring a 9.850. Finally, Janicke made her debut on vault, tying the team event high with LaRusso.
The Wildcats will wait and see if they will be selected for the NCAA Regionals on April 4 at Alaska Airlines Arena in Seattle, Washington.
Player: Caleb Love, men’s basketball
Caleb Love put his heart out on the floor for the Wildcats in the team’s Sweet 16 loss against Duke University. The 100-93 loss saw Love post a season-high and second-highest outing as a Wildcat with 35 points behind 11-for-21 shooting from the floor and 5-for-11 from beyond the arc.
Love was crucial in bringing the game back within reach for Arizona after the Blue Devils grabbed a massive 70-51 lead with 13 minutes remaining in the second half. Love then scored 15 points in five minutes to ultimately bring the game back into punching distance. Love’s 21-point second half wouldn’t be enough to overpower the dominant Blue Devil offense led by Cooper Flagg.
Earlier in the tournament, Love was noticeably quiet in the Wildcats’ game against the University of Akron but showed out against the University of Oregon. Love almost tripled his point total from 10 against Akron to 29 against the Ducks. The outing against Oregon demonstrated Love’s grit and grind in the toughest moments, bringing the Wildcats back to their second straight Sweet 16 appearance.
Love’s final time out on the college court showcased his quintessential play. From clutch 3-pointers, tough drives into the lane to nail biting comebacks, Love didn’t make his last time out a quiet one. Love’s time at Arizona will be remembered as one that demonstrated his leadership from Pac-12 dominance in his first year to a tremendous season comeback from a 4-5 start this year.
Love’s spot on the team will be hard to replace. Whoever it is Tommy Lloyd sees fit has a lot to do to fill his shoes.
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