Seniors help bury visiting Gophers

Led by steady performances from seniors Cami Banholzer, Tenli Poggemeyer, Rose McLaughlin and Nancy Milberger, No. 25 Arizona (6-8 overall, 1-4 Pac-10) held off a late-comeback attempt by No. 11 Minnesota. UA upset the Golden Gophers, 194.950 to 193.825 Friday night at McKale Center.

Arizona's winning score is not only the top mark of the season, but it also ranks No. 10 in the team's history. And the victory was made even sweeter with it coming in UA head coach Jim Gault's final meet in McKale.

"This is a great win. We really wanted to do this for Mr. Gault," Banholzer said. "We came into this meet thinking that this was it, and we just wanted to have fun in our final home meet."

For Gault, the upset gave a great ending to a story that began 18 years ago with his entrance to the program. Yet nothing prepared him for the secret ceremony some coaches and former athletes arranged for him following the meet. A five minute video came up on the big screen in McKale chronicling Gault's stay as head coach.

"I am overwhelmed, stunned and most of all grateful," Gault said following the ceremony. "I had no idea that this would happen at the end. This is such an honor."

As for the meet, the Wildcats gave their best overall performance of the year. The team set season highs in the vault (48.675) and beam (49.000). The beam score also ranked No. 3 in Arizona's history. Individually, the Wildcats set or tied five personal-best marks, led by junior Kristin McDermott's vault (9.775) and beam (9.925) scores.

"We had a great practice on Thursday so I knew they could do it. This helps us get back at what Minnesota did to us last season," Gault said.

In last year's meet in Minnesota, the Wildcats held a lead entering their final event, the beam. UA ended up losing the meet, 191.800 to 191.425. Arizona's top score on the beam Friday ended up being a major factor in the team's win.

"This is really great for us, but I still can't believe that was our last home meet," Poggemeyer said.

The Wildcats head to Tempe to face Arizona State Friday for their last regular season meet.