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Liljenquist, Hornbeek head to Idaho for NCAA Championships

Two members of the UA gymnastics team are heading to the NCAA Championships in Boise, Idaho to compete in the all-around finals tomorrow through Saturday.

Sophomore Randi Liljenquist is a No. 4 at-large seed and will rotate with Georgia during competition, while senior All-American Heidi Hornbeek moves into the No. 6 at-large seed and will rotate with Iowa.

Liljenquist earned her first trip to the NCAA Championships by finishing third at the NCAA Region III Championships on April 1 with a score of 39.275. She won the beam title at regionals with a 9.9.

"Randi (Liljenquist) has been competing consistently all season long," head coach Bill Ryden said. "I think she will do very well against some of the top gymnasts in the country and show everyone she deserves to be here."

Liljenquist received all-conference honors for the first time in her career by being named to the All-Pacific 10 Conference team for her performances in the all-around.

"I'm really excited to go to nationals and compete in the all-around," Liljenquist said. "I grew up watching girls compete at meets like this one, always wanting to be like them, and now I get the chance. It's great."

Hornbeek, who was originally named the first alternate, is replacing Ginger Rusell of Oklahoma, who pulled out because of injury. This is Hornbeek's third appearance in her four-year career. Last year, she qualified as the No. 1 at-large seed in the all-around and received All-American honors on the bars, beam and all-around events.

Hornbeek will compete in her last meet as a Wildcat tomorrow with a number of different injuries. She is suffering from three permanent fractures in her back, and three torn disks that are bulging.

"I'm in a ton of pain, but I have the chance to end my career at nationals," Hornbeek said. "It's an opportunity that I can't pass up."

Hornbeek said she has taken out a lot of the more difficult moves in her routines, which will make it harder for her to earn titles this weekend, but with all of her injuries, she has no choice.

"Heidi (Hornbeek) is a very tough competitor," Ryden said. "I don't know another athlete in any of the other sports that would compete in that much pain."

Liljenquist and Hornbeek are the only Wildcats to finish ranked in the national polls. Liljenquist is ranked No. 14 in the all-around, tied for No. 20 on the floor and tied for No. 24 on the beam. Hornbeek is tied for No. 10 on the vault.

"I hope that Heidi and I both have a good showing at nationals so we can represent our team and our school well," Liljenquist said.