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Gymnastic team falls on hard times at Pac-10 championships

The Arizona gymnastics team recorded its lowest finish in program history (192.95) finishing in a disappointing seventh place in the Pacific 10 Conference Friday night.

The UCLA Bruins defended their team title and took top honors again this year with a score of 197.7. Oregon State earned second place (196.575), Washington placed third (195.9), with Arizona State in fourth (195.875), California in fifth (194.675) and Stanford finished above UA in sixth place (193.9).

The Wildcats (5-16 overall, 1-11 conference) struggled at the start of the meet on the beam where they had to count two falls. The first three gymnasts to compete fell - freshman Nikki Beyschau, sophomore Emily Peterman, and senior All-American Heidi Hornbeek.

"After we started the meet with three falls I knew I wasn't going to get in that slump," junior Kara Fry said. "I went to do my job and wanted to jump start our team."

Fry then went on to score a 9.775 on the beam, rebuilding the team's confidence.

A big blow to the team chances was that Hornbeek re-aggravated an injury during her performance on the beam and had to be pulled from the floor.

"We had no replacement for Heidi and only had five girls compete," head coach Bill Ryden said. "We had to count two falls on floor and we were now down by two points after just two events."

The Wildcats responded to the poor beginning by tying a season-high team score on the vault. UA recorded a 49.15 on the vault finishing in second place behind the Bruins.

The Wildcats then went on to provide strong performances on the bars, recording no falls on the event and finishing in third place.

"The girls reacted very positive. We could have just folded after two events," Ryden said. "Instead we went out and rocked on vault and rocked on the bars as well, but it wasn't enough. We didn't dig ourselves a hole, we dug ourselves a grave, but they responded to it in a positive manner."

Sophomore Randi Liljenquist finished in third place in the all-around with a score of 39.425 her second highest score of the season.

"I know I provide more of a leadership role than last year, but I don't think the team feels they have to rely on me," Liljenquist said. "I'm just part of the team and we all want to do well."

Fry also gave strong performances recording a 9.8 on the floor and finishing with a 39.05 in the all-around.

"Although the team last year had a much better showing at Pac-10s, the team this year knows where our priorities are and I don't think we will have a problem meeting our goals," Fry said. "I think we are a better team than last year and we will do well at regionals."

In the previous week the Wildcats scored their fourth highest team score of the season (195.2) falling short to ASU (195.8).

Hornbeek won the vault title with a 9.925 and earned third in the all-around with a score of 38.8. Arizona swept the all-around with Liljenquist taking the title (39.375) and Beyschau in second (39.125).

As a team the Wildcats split the four events with the Sun Devils earning top team scores on the vault (49.15) and the beam (48.95).