Pac-12 gymnastics leading the nation in the polls
Jan 22, 2014
This week the Pac-12 landed all eight teams in the national Top 25. Two teams in the top ten include No. 4 UTAH and No. 8 UCLA. STANFORD claims the No. 12 spot and OREGON STATE and ARIZONA are back-to-back in No. 16 and No. 17. WASHINGTON is next at No. 21 with ARIZONA STATE coming in at No. 23. CALIFORNIA takes the final spot in the rankings at No. 25. The SEC is a close second with 7 teams represented in the Top 25 rankings. Weekly Pac-12 honors include Gymnast of the Week Kristina Vaculik of STANFORD, Specialist of the Week Georgia Dabritz of UTAH, and Freshman of the Week Rachel Daum, also of STANFORD. Be sure to tune into Pac-12 Networks this Sat., Jan. 25 at 7:30 p.m. MT to watch No. 8 UCLA hit the road to take on No. 4 Utah.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Fri., Jan. 24
CALIFORNIA at ARIZONA STATE 5 p.m. MT
WASHINGTON at Seattle Pacific 7 p.m PT
Sat., Jan. 25
Oklahoma at ARIZONA 4 p.m. MT
UCLA at UTAH 7:30 p.m. MT
Iowa State at OREGON STATE 7 p.m. PT
Sun., Jan. 26
STANFORD at UC Davis 1 p.m. PT
*All times listed local to site.
PAC-12 GYMNASTICS NOTES
Arizona
In Arizona’s first Pac-12 Conference meet of the season, the No.19 ranked Wildcats fell to No. 12 Stanford 195.925-195.850 on the road. It was a narrow loss for Arizona who held the lead after three events. The tri-meet also hosted Sacramento State who finished third with 192.450. Sophomore Shelby Edwards and junior Kristin Klarenbach posted career high scores in the vault each earning a 9.900. In the second week as the Wildcats lone all-around competitior, Jordan Williams scored a 39.225 taking second.
Up Next: No. 17 Arizona hosts No. 1 Oklahoma on Sat. Jan. 25th at 4 p.m. MT.
Arizona State
The Sun Devils score 195.900 to take first place in Seattle in a quad meet featuring the Huskies, San Jose State, and UC Davis. Arizona State saw strong performances on floor, scoring a season high 49.150 in the event. Sophomore Risa Perez led the way on the floor routine with a career-high 9.875. Fellow sophomore Sun Devil, Carissa Kraus, took home the bar title with a score of 9.875 contriuting the Arizona State’s team total of 48.800 in the event.
Up Next: No. 23 Sun Devils host No. 25 California on Fri., Jan. 24 at 5 p.m. MT
California
California fell to No. 4 Utah last friday in their home opener. The Golden Bears performed well as their 196.875-196.275 loss Friday evening marked the highest home opener score ever in the programs history. Alicia Asturias was one of Cal’s top performers of the meet, taking second in the vault tying her career high of 9.950 and second in the all-around with a 39.400. Freshman Charlie Owens took third in the all-around with 37.575 while posting a new career high on bars.
Up Next: No. 25 Golden Bears hit the road and continue Conference play at No. 23 Arizona State on Fri., Jan. 24 at 5 p.m. MT
Oregon State
The No. 14 Beavers scored 195.625 in a loss at No. 6 UCLA in its Pac-12 opener on Sunday. Despite outscoring the Bruins by almost a full point on the beam routine, UCLA scored in the 49-point range in the other three events to finish with a final score of 196.425. Junior Taylor Keeker posted a solid routine in the uneven bars (9.75) and earned a career high 9.90 on the vault.
Up Next: No. 16 Oregon State hosts Iowa State Sat., Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. PT.
Stanford
The undefeated Cardinal took first this weekend with a team total of 195.925 ahead of No. 19 Arizona (195.850) and Sacramento State (192.450). Kristina Vaculik earned three individual victories on bars and floor, scoring 9.925 on both events, and claimed her first all-around win in the all-around with a personal best 39.425. Despite missed routines on bars, Stanford had four gymnasts scoring 9.875 or higher, including three in the 9.900 range.
Up Next: The No. 12 Cardinal will travel to Davis, CA to take on UC Davis on Sun. Jan. 26 at 1 p.m. PT.
UCLA
No. 6 UCLA defeats No. 14 Oregon State 196.425-195.625 in Pauly Pavilion on Sunday. Senior Sydney Sawa recorded career-best marks on vault (9.95) and floor (9.975) earning a 10.0 from one of the two judges on each event. She also finished second on uneven bars to tie for second place. Another Bruin earning a perfect mark from a judge was freshman Angi Cipra on floor exercise ,where she finished with a final score of 9.95. This marks the Bruins first victory of the season.
Up Next: No. 8 UCLA resumes Pac-12 action at No. 4 Utah on Sat., Jan 25 7:30 p.m. MT on Pac-12 Networks.
Utah
The No. 4 Utes defeat the Golden Bears at Berkeley with a final score of 196.875-196.275. Junior Tory Wilson picked up her first vault win of the season with a 9.975 and won the all-around scoring a 39.450. Last weeks Specialist of the Week, Junior Georgia Dabritz, took the floor routine title (9.950) and tied for first on bars with teammate Cory Lothrop (9.900).
Up Next: No. 4 Utah will return home to host No. 8 UCLA on Sat., Jan. 25 7:30 p.m. MT on Pac-12 Networks.
Washington
The Huskies scored 194.8252 to place second at home in a quad meet versus Arizona State, San Jose State, and UC Davis. Juniors Jackie McCartin and Madison Podlucky led the way for Washington with McCartin tying her personal best on uneven bars (9.875) and Podlucky tying her previous best on floor (9.800).
Up Next: No. 21 Huskies will remain in Seattle as they visit cross-town rival Seattle Pacific on Fri., Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. PT.