Search

ARCHIVES
CONTACT US
WORLD NEWS

Gymnasts season ends with 4th place finish

Liljenquist advances to nationals, Hornbeek an alternate

In their 14th consecutive trip to the NCAA Region III Championships, the UA gymnastics' team missed qualifying for the NCAA National Gymnastics Championships by finishing fourth with a team score of 194.1, Saturday at McKale Center.

The two teams that qualified to advance to the championships were No. 5 Nebraska (196.875) and No. 7 Louisiana State (195.65). The remaining teams in the field were Arizona State, which finished in third place with a score of 195.5, Illinois-Chicago in fifth (193.65) and Missouri, which placed last with a team score of 190.975.

As a team, Arizona struggled in the beginning of the competition with falls on the bars.

"We under-achieved on the bars and had some problems on the beam as well," UA head coach Bill Ryden said. "We've been fighting health problems all season so we haven't had six consistent competitors."

The Wildcats battled falls on the beam as well and found themselves in last place after two events. After a bye during the third rotation, though, the Wildcats came out and gave strong performances on the floor and the vault.

"I think the first two events were rough," sophomore Randi Liljenquist said. "But we got our second wind and pulled it together for the last two events."

The Wildcats scored a season-high 49.175 on the vault ending the meet on a high note.

"I'm proud of the team because they never gave up and fought hard the entire time," Ryden said.

The Wildcats (7-19 overall) ended their season ranked No. 20 in the country.

"I think we showed people tonight that regardless of our record we deserve to be in the post-season," Ryden said. "I'm very proud of this team because they came out, fought hard and had fun in their last meet."

Individually for the Wildcats, Liljenquist advanced to nationals by finishing as one of the top 12 all-around performers in the country. Liljenquist won the beam title with a 9.9 and was the top Arizona finisher in the all-around with a 39.275.

"I'm really excited about going to nationals," Liljenquist said. "I'm nervous though because I'm used to having the team there for support. I think it's going to be harder, but I'm looking forward to it."

The most inspiring performance for UA came from senior All-American Heidi Hornbeek, who in her final home meet, fought through a variety of injuries, including bulging discs in her back, to finish second on the vault with a 9.9. She also tied for sixth in the all-around with a 39.05, making her the first alternate in the all-around for nationals.

"Considering my body, the little practice time I had and against the advise of a number of doctors I think I did pretty well," Hornbeek said. "There are places where I wish I would have done better, but I'm happy I made it through."

"Heidi (Hornbeek) gave an impressive effort considering all of her injuries," Ryden said. "She didn't get to practice and prepare as much, but she still did an impressive job."

Even without the team for support, Ryden is confident Liljenquist will be successful at nationals.

"It's her first time going and I think it will be an eye-opening experience for her because it's a longer meet and a different experience," Ryden said. "I think she'll do fine. She'll get into Randi mode and do really well."