(Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN)
The University of Arizona Gym Cats (1-6, 1-4 Pac-12) come into Tempe this weekend for the annual Territorial Cup matchup with the No. 17 Gym Devils (5-4, 2-3 Pac-12) in their last Pac-12 meet of the season.
Since 2000, the two programs have split the series with nine wins a piece, but the most recent victory went to Arizona State last year. Although the Devils earned a victory in the rivalry matchup from 2017, ASU looks like a completely different team entering this meet than they did just a year ago.
Head Coach Jay Santos’ squad boasts their seventh straight week ranked in the top 20 nationally, even through major injuries to experienced gymnasts junior Katelyn Lentz and senior Nichelle Christopherson. Christopherson, the lone fourth-year athlete on the team, will be honored at the meet for her senior night.
As far as how the meet will play out, a Territorial Cup meeting is never easy. Although the Gym Cats were only able to have eight gymnasts compete last week against Oregon State, Arizona Athletics that tentatively all four lineups will be filled completely.
Taking into account last week’s 145.375 score, Arizona is ranked No. 71; however, it is team that has put up a 196.325 score this year and is capable of pushing the Gym Devils, who have only surpassed that score in three meets this season.
By event, ASU ranks No. 13 on uneven bars, No. 21 on floor exercise, No. 22 on balance beam, and No. 25 on vault. Meanwhile, UA stands at No. 21 on bars, No. 79 on floor, No. 38 on beam and No. 82 on vault.
Arizona State will be led by four-time Pac-12 Freshman/Newcomer of the week, Cairo Leonard-Baker, who has won nine individual event titles throughout the season. No other member of the team has more than one. While Leonard-Baker has been a steady force for the Gym Devils, she has never competed in a Territorial Cup rivalry meet before.
“I think we just need to come out here and do what we’ve been doing every time we’re at home,” Leonard-Baker said. “I don’t want anyone to think about like ‘oh it’s the rivalry week we have to be so much better’, no we just have to be the same.”
If the Gym Devils can repeat their performance from last week, they will honor Christopherson well and would score higher than Arizona has all season.
ASU’s final home meet and last Pac-12 matchup of the year comes to Wells Fargo Arena, Saturday, Feb. 24 at 4 p.m.
