Gymnasts place third in regionals

Ian Mayer Arizona Daily Wildcat Redshirt junior Heidi Hornbeek performs on the bars earlier this season at McKale Center. Hornbeek was the only Arizona gymnast who qualified for the NCAA Championships.

Arizona scored a 193.625 behind Nebraska's 196.325 and Michigan, which earned the title with a 196.750. Junior Heidi Hornbeek was the only Arizona gymnast who qualified for the NCAA Championships.

"I'm bummed that the team doesn't get to go," Hornbeek said.

Hornbeek finished behind Michigan's Sarah Cain, who took the all-around title. Michigan's Lisa Simes rounded out the top three.

Hornbeek's 9.9 score on the beam earned her first place in that event.

Arizona had high hopes entering this meet stemming from record-shattering scores toward the end of the regular season. Yet, in the end they could not overcome Michigan, which they lost to earlier in the season, and the host Cornhuskers.

Arizona head coach Bill Ryden was disappointed with the results of the meet.

"We were a little bit rough," he said. "It wasn't as good of an all-around performance as we had towards the end of the year."

In the end it may have been the lingering injuries that took their toll. Junior Maureen Kealey and senior Kristin McDermott were clearly bothered by injuries throughout the meet, Ryden said, which may have contributed to crucial falls on the beam and bars.

However, on the floor Arizona did perform well, scoring a 48.925 - the 10th highest mark in Arizona history.

Hornbeek gets a week off before traveling to Salt Lake City, Utah, to take part in the NCAA Championships April 22-24.

Derek Larson can be reached at Derek.Larson@wildcat.arizona.edu.