Gymnasts have solid showing despite numerous injuries

The Arizona women's gymnastics team did just that, finishing fifth behind champion UCLA at the Pacific 10 Conference championships at McKale Center on Saturday in front of1,450 fans.

UCLA, ranked No. 7 coming into the meet, won with a score of 196.550. The Bruins were led by senior Leah Homma, who won the all-around title and recorded a perfect 10 on the uneven parallel bars.

The Wildacts were led by sophomore Heidi Hornbeek, who won the balance beam with a career-high 9.95, and finished first as part of a first-ever, five-way tie for first in the floor exercise with a 9.90. The other four were Minday Ornellas (Cal), Randi Miller and Amy Smith (OSU), and Klara Kudilkova (Washington).

"I felt I did good tonight, but I think we will do better in the regionals," Hornbeek said.

Hornbeek had been battling the flu in the days leading up to the meet, but she said she felt better the day of the meet.

Arizona (16-10, 8-6 in the Pac-10 Conference) struggled in its first two events, the vault and uneven bars. The Wildcats had six falls, but managed to pick up speed heading into the final two events.

"I've got to be happy with the way we came out tonight," UA head coach Jim Gault said.

Junior Tenli Poggemeyer, who injured her ankle two weeks ago at the Shanico Inn-Vitational in Corvallis, Ore., was listed as doubtful for the meet, but competed in the vault and the bars.

"I felt good tonight," Poggemeyer said, who scored a 9.75 (vault) and 9.625 (beam). "I am not 100 percent yet, but I should be ready for the regionals,"

Freshman Gretchen Diaz, competing for only the second time in her career on the balance beam, scored a career-high 9.70. Maureen Kealy, Cami Banholzer and Heidi Hornbeek also scored personal bests on the beam with scores of 9.85, 9.875 and 9.95, respectively.