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RANDY METCALF/Arizona Daily Wildcat
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The No. 10 Arizona gymnastics team led by senior Nikki Beyschau head to Missouri to participate in the "Cat Classic" against Brigham Young, New Hampshire and Missouri.
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By Maxx Wolfson
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Friday February 7, 2003
Last week, Gymcat head coach Bill Ryden couldn't imagine what he would do if his team had to travel with all the injuries and illnesses that they had. Luckily, Arizona had a home meet against Arizona State.
This week, he isn't so lucky.
As the No. 10 Gymcats were driving yesterday from St. Louis to the University of Missouri, located in Columbia about two hours away from the airport, all the team could see was dark clouds and snow on the ground ÷ not really the best remedy for a team that has been hit hard by the flu over the last couple weeks.
But Ryden said his team should be okay by tonight when the Gymcats (3-2, 1-2) enter the Cat Classic against two ranked teams ÷ No. 20 Brigham Young (1-2) and No. 22 Missouri (2-2) ÷ and unranked New Hampshire (5-3).
"I have a hopeful lineup right now but I'm not going to really know again until just before the meet," Ryden said. "If we can put out the lineup we have I think that we'll be fine."
That lineup will include sophomores Monica Bisordi (knee) and Jamie Schell (ankle), who have been slowed by injuries.
Ryden, who took 14 women on the trip, had a light workout last night to test the equipment they will be using today and tomorrow.
The Cat Classic, which is setup like a mock NCAA Championship, includes teams with feline-related mascots, such as the Cougars of BYU, the Tigers of Missouri, the Wildcats of both New Hampshire and Arizona.
Arizona owns an all-time record of 52-16 at the Cat Classic, including seven team championships, six second-place finishes and 38 individual titles.
"We have quite a history here," Ryden said. "In the first seven years that I was an assistant coach at Arizona we won the bar title each year."
Last week against the Sun Devils, UA took the team floor title and will be looking to carry that momentum into the tournament this weekend.
"We're really a great floor team but we have been hurt by lower body injuries," Ryden said. "You can only fake a presentation so much when you are in that much pain."
