Gymnastics team returns home to get first Pac-10 win

By Arlie Rahn
Arizona Daily Wildcat
February 9, 1998

Gymnastics team returns home to get first Pac-10 win

After six consecutive losses, five of which were on the road, the No. 19 Wildcat gymnastics team rebounded and scored a season-high 193.725 in route to a second-place finish in a four-team meet Friday at McKale Center.

A crowd of 1,076 witnessed No. 14 Washington take the top score with a 193.975. California and Illinois-Chicago finishing third (190.125) and fourth (187.725) respectively.

"We had a very good meet overall, but the ending was a bit disappointing," UA head coach Jim Gault said. "When we go into our last event tied for the lead, we can't end up on our butts in three of the six routines.

While the Wildcats (3-6 overall, 1-4 in the Pacific 10 Conference) had their troubles in the floor exercise with three early falls, the team picked up the slack in the beam event, recording the sixth-best score in school history at 48.75.

UA freshman Kara Fry finished third in the all around with a career-best 38.925. Arizona senior Tenli Poggemeyer finished second in the all around with a season-high score of 38.975. She gave Arizona a chance to win the meet when she scored a 9.9 in floor after Arizona's previous three falls.