In the Pacific 10 Conference finals last season, UA junior gymnast Tenli Poggemeyer was Arizona's number one gun. Living up to expectations, Poggemeyer recorded a team-high 38.975 helping the team finish third in the conference.

But with this year's Pac-10 finals coming on March 23, it doesn't appear that Poggemeyer will have quite the same impact. Due to an injured back and shoulder, she will be playing only a limited role.

"It really doesn't bother me that I haven't been competing as much as last season," Poggemeyer said. "I would like to be out there a little more, but as long as the team keeps doing well, I'll be happy."

In fact, Poggemeyer has already missed three all-around competitions this season due to injuries. But even in the ones she competed in, she was not 100 percent and has seen her top score drop from a 39.3 last season to a 38.725 this year.

"It has been tough for her at times, but she has handled things pretty well," UA head coach Jim Gault said. "She had a severely sprained ankle and sore shoulder earlier in the season, and now has a bit of a sore lower back. She needs to concentrate now on just getting healthy."

Last season it was senior Karen Tierney who was stricken with the injury bug, missing the final half of the season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her knee. Ironically, it was Poggemeyer who stepped up for Arizona in Tierney's absence by leading the Wildcats in the all-around for most of the season. Her largest impact came against UCLA when she scored over a 9.8 in every event and a 39.3 in all-around.

"I've always wanted to do what was best for the team," she said. "Last season, when Karen went out, I needed to improve my performance in the all-around. But this season we have a great team and there isn't as much pressure on me."

Arizona's improvement was instigated by the emergence of Arizona's three freshmen: Heidi Hornbeek, Maureen Kealey and Kristin McDermott. And with such a young team, Poggemeyer has been transformed from the inexperienced sophomore of a year ago, to one of Arizona's leaders.

"Anyone who has done as well as she has in the last year and one-half is in a position to be a leader of our team," Gault said. "She has a great work ethic, and that makes her a great role model."

"At this point in the season, we have a lot more confidence than we did last season," Poggemeyer said.

Right now, however, the main concern for Poggemeyer is to be back in time for the NCAA regional meet on April 13.

"She has been quietly going about her business and trying to get back to the level she was at before her injuries," Gault said.