Gymcats sweep home opener


By Michael Irish
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Tuesday, January 18, 2005

The No. 21 Arizona gymnastics team pulled off a come-from-behind victory, knocking off No. 6 Michigan State, in its home-opening meet Friday at McKale Center.

The Gymcats (193.35) beat No. 23 Missouri (191.7), the University of Illinois-Chicago (189.6) and narrowly topped the Spartans (191.95) in the meet's final event.

Trailing the Spartans with only the floor exercise left, the Gymcats got several solid performances, including a near perfect (9.9) out of senior Katie Johnson, to cap off the meet and top No. 6 Michigan State.

Along with the three team-wins, Arizona also won all four individual titles in events.

Sophomore Aubrey Taylor took the uneven parallel bar (9.750), senior Monica Bisordi won the balance beam (9.825) and Johnson took two individual titles on both the vault (9.85) and floor exercise.

"It's really fun to win at home," Johnson said. "Winning the first match at home really helps the team's momentum for the rest of the season.

"You try your hardest, and we came out pretty well," Johnson added.

Bisordi (38.625) was the top Gymcat in the all-around competition, placing third behind Michigan State's Kristen Coleman (38.7) and Missouri's Alisha Robinson (39.025).

"We made definite steps forward from our first competition, but there is still room to improve," said UA head coach Bill Ryden. "I'm still toying with lineups."

Arizona begins Pacific 10 Conference play Friday when it hosts ASU at 7:30 p.m.

"I know it will be a good meet," said Ryden. "If we do our job, I am confident in any competition."