Scoring has not been a problem of late for the Arizona gymnastics team, which has scored over 196 in its last six meets. The No. 9 Gymcats' problem has been the outcome ÷ they are 1-3-1 in their last five competitions.
"We're focusing on keeping our mental sharpness through the entire meet," said head coach Bill Ryden. "The point now is, let's just get our gymnastics ready for competition. Florida's a good team."
The Gymcats' (7-4-1, 2-3-1 Pacific 10 Conference) trip to Gainesville, Fla., to face the explosive No. 7 Florida Gators tonight will be no walk in the swamp. The Gators rank in the nation's top five in two team events and have won 53 straight meets at home. To make matters more interesting, tonight is "Mardi Gras Madness" in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.
"Should we have problems, I don't think being on the road will be the issue," Ryden said.
Ranked second in the nation on beam (49.365) and fourth on bars (49.325), the Gators have the reigning Southeastern Conference Gymnast of the Week, Erinn Dooley, whose all-around 39.450 helped dispatch Arizona State and Illinois Feb. 29.
Arizona came up short against ASU Feb. 27 in Tempe (197.7-196.225) in a meet that saw the Sun Devils put up an amazing four perfect 10s. The Gymcats stumbled in the meet on both vault and bars, events in which the UA is ranked fifth and 13th, respectively.
"We need to focus on what we do, but not on one particular event," Ryden said. "We need to put together a complete meet and not make that a continuing issue."
The Wildcats' highest rank is in vault (49.335), followed by No. 9 on beam (49.155). Individually for the Wildcats, senior Andi McCabe ranks seventh on vault and junior Monica Bisordi's all-around average of 39.48 ranks eighth in the nation.