ERIC M. JUKELEVICS/Arizona Daily Wildcat Senior Gymcat Randi Liljenquist performs on the bars earlier this season in McKale Center. Liljenquist and the rest of the team begin the semifinal round of the NCAA Championships tonight in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

The Arizona gymnastics team will compete tonight in the semifinal round of the 2002 National Championships, in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

The top three teams in each of today's six-team sessions will advance to the final round tomorrow evening, with the individual championships being held on Saturday.

The 11 other teams competing against No. 12 Arizona will be host school Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana State, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Utah and Pacific 10 Conference rivals Oregon State, Stanford and UCLA.

The Gymcats were able to earn a berth to compete among the best in the country after posting a second-place finish at the South Central Regional Championships in Tempe on April 6, with only top-ranked UCLA posting a higher overall score (197.425 - 194.950).

Despite being the first national championship trip for the Gymcat squad since 1996, it has a much deeper meaning for the three senior tri-captains who have led the team not just all season, but throughout their entire stay in Tucson.

While the rest of the team will be able to step out of the locker room following the meet and know that they will again compete as Wildcats next year, seniors Lindsey Compitello, Nicci Filchner and Randi Liljenquist know this will be the last time they are able to put on their navy-and-crimson uniforms.

"Obviously it is going to be emotional," Liljenquist said. "Knowing this is our last meet, we are going to have fun with no matter what and do our best. We will walk away with a positive experience."

Liljenquist's importance to this team could be seen from the second she stepped onto the mats during her freshman year, as she is arguably the most celebrated gymnast in school history.

The All-American, local native and graduate of Canyon Del Oro High School, has tallied three perfect scores (10.000), in addition to holding school records on the beam, floor exercise, and the all-around. Following the regional championship meet, Randi was also named South Central Region Gymnast of the year.

Despite seeing only limited action during the season, Compitello and Filchner still deserve plenty of credit for their roles with the team. Serving as tri-captains, along with Liljenquist, both athletes have displayed the kind of work ethic and determination, both athletically and academically, that one would hope all young athletes would share.

Compitello, a communication major from Downington, Penn., has maintained a 3.75 grade point average, earning her first-team All-Conference academic honors for the second straight year. She also has been honored as a National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches Scholastic All-American in both 2000 and 2001.

After competing as a freshman in 1998, Filchner was forced to redshirt in 1999 after undergoing shoulder surgery following her freshman campaign. After competing as a redshirt sophomore in 2000, Filchner had to have shoulder surgery for the third time in May of 2000. Filchner's determination and perseverance paid off, as she was a solid competitor in 2001, earning three top-five finishes during the season.

Looking ahead toward tonight's meet, head coach Bill Ryden, the 2002 Pac-10 and South Central Region Coach of the Year, said he is confident his team will be able to excel among the nation's best.

"The girls believe in themselves and believe in this team," Ryden added. "We as coaches are going to try to impress upon them that this is in fact a normal competition. We need to go out and focus and not let all of the pomp and circumstance make a difference. If we are able to go out and be Arizona Gymnastics right from the first routine, we will perform well."