Gymnasts defeat Sun Devils to conclude regular season

Matt Heistand Arizona Daily Wildcat Gymnastics freshman Brooke Stan performs on the balance beam Saturday night at McKale Center. The Arizona gymnastics team defeated No. 7-ranked Arizona State 196.300 to 195.950.

The score was the highest recorded in Arizona history. Arizona improved to 11-8-1 overall and 6-5-1 in the Pacific 10 Conference.

Senior Kristin McDermott topped off her career at McKale with a first place finish in the all-around (39.525).

"I worked very hard all week, and am very, very happy," she said.

This was an important meet being her last home meet and competing against her collegiate rival, but McDermott tried to block out all of the outside distractions.

"I didn't think of this as my last meet, I tried not to worry about what was going on around me," McDermott said.

Junior Heidi Hornbeek finished in a second place tie in the all-around with ASU's Wendy Ellsberry with a 39.375. Hornbeek tied for first in the vault with McDermott and placed first on bars. McDermott also tied for second on bars with junior Maureen Kealey.

The UA gymnasts have overcome many obstacles along the way, head coach Bill Ryden said.

"We crawled out of a hole," he said. "A couple of weeks ago I didn't know if we could crawl out of it, but we've shown the country and ourselves that we can compete."

Arizona has a week of rest before traveling to Nebraska to take part in the Midwest Regionals Saturday April 10.