Poggemeyer ends Wildcat season on good note

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat Tenli Poggemeyer - The UA senior finished 15th overall at the NCAA Championships in the floor exercise.

Poggemeyer scored a 9.800 on floor to earn All-America status in the event.

"I was really happy with my performance. It was definitely a great way to go out," Poggemeyer said. "It was a little difficult not having the team there, but it was still an incredible experience."

Poggemeyer qualified for Saturday's finals when she tied a career high with a 9.9 in Thursday's all around championship. She scored a 38.775 overall, with solid marks in the vault (9.600), bars (9.600) and beam (9.675) to compliment her ninth place finish in floor.

Poggemeyer, a Scottsdale native, had also enjoyed previous success in the national championships. In 1996, she hit season-high scores on vault (9.800) and bars (9.825).

Arizona's other competitor in Nationals, freshman Kara Fry, was the victim of two falls on Thursday and failed to qualify for Saturday's finals. She finished with scores of 9.550 (vault), 9.775 (bars), 9.125 (beam), 9.200 (floor) and an all around score of 37.650.

"Tenli's really had a great career here for us," UA assistant coach Bill Ryden said. "I think it was hard for Kara in that she did not have the rest of the team there for support."

While Tenli will be graduating this spring, she had words of encouragement for Fry and next year's team.

"I think this was a great experience for Kara and something that she can build on next season," Poggemeyer said. "There is a good possibility that she will make it back next season with the entire team."

Ryden also feels next year's gymnastics team has a high upside.

"We ended the year finishing 14th in the nation, and that was a great accomplishment," Ryden said. "And with most of this team returning, along with Maureen (Kealey) and Heidi (Hornbeek) recovering from their injuries, we have the ability to have a very successful season."