Confident gymnastics squad hope to end losing skid

Even though the No. 19 Wildcats (1-5 overall, 0-2 Pacific-10 Conference) have struggled in the win column, the team has still scored well in its last three meets.

"Your win-loss record almost doesn't matter in gymnastics," UA senior Cami Banholzer said. "All we are concerned with is how well we score and perform. And over the last few meets we have done a very good job."

Arizona's last two meets have been close, with the Wildcats losing by less than one point in each. And while the losses might have been a little frustrating, the confidence level is still pretty high.

"I think that our girls feel like they can perform with anyone we face," UA gymnastics coach Jim Gault said. "We have competed very well lately. And even without two of our top gymnasts, we feel that we have the potential to be a very good team."

In order to reach that higher level, Arizona must find ways to gain more "bonus points" in each routine. A bonus point of one-tenth is given out to a gymnast when she completes a skill above and beyond the regular requirements for that event.

Most Arizona gymnasts have routines at the 9.8 level instead of the coveted 10.0 one. This means the Wildcats need to add one or two more skills in order to get those next two tenths.

"We have a lot of girls that do their performances well, but only receive a 9.5 out of 9.8," Gault said. "If we could bump those up to the 10.0 level, we could gain some valuable tenths that we have lacked in the last couple of weeks."

Two performers who have been pleasant surprises over the last couple of meets have been freshman Mary Reiss and sophomore Kiernan Andrews. These two underclassmen have helped Arizona boost its early season lackluster vault scores over a point in the last two meets. Reiss set her personal best in the event with a 9.7 in Georgia, with Andrews adding a 9.9 vault score in the same meet.

"I have been doing well in practice all year long, and I'm finally beginning to get over the nervousness in the meets," said Andrews, who also performs in the floor exercise. "But my last two performances have improved my confidence and I'm feeling more comfortable out there."

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