By
Adrienne Mackey
Arizona Daily Wildcat
It was a strange season for the UA gymnastics team.
They broke several individual records and made the NCAA Regional Finals despite a regular-season record of 6-20.
In the world of collegiate gymnastics, team wins mean less than individual scores. That system allowed the Wildcats to finish No. 22 in the nation, according to the Regional Qualifying System, a ratings marker designed to rank teams on individual performances.
Arizona's meet against Arizona State toward the end of the season was a perfect example of the complexity of the scoring system. In the meet, UA posted the school's highest-ever meet total - 196.900 points - against rival Arizona State. Despite the high score, UA fell to the Sun Devils by .550 points.
Numerous close losses nearly tainted a successful individual season.
As a team, Arizona ended the season at the Regional Finals, where they missed Nationals by less than one point.
Two UA gymnasts - senior Kara Fry and junior Randi Liljenquist - advanced to the NCAA Championships.
"It was definitely a bittersweet year for us," Fry said.
The senior tied for 24th in the all-around competition and Liljenquist tied for 45th on the floor event.
"It was really hard for us to compete without our team there for support," Fry said.
Head coach Bill Ryden, in his third year at Arizona, has high expectations for the team in 2002.
"To make it to Nationals as a team will be our ultimate goal for next season," he said.
