Arizona

Arizona GymCats hope to maintain success in quad meets at NCAA Regionals

Published

9 months ago

April 4, 2025

Arizona GymCats hope to maintain success in quad meets at NCAA Regionals

The No. 21 Arizona GymCats are looking at the NCAA Regional Semifinals in Seattle as just another quad meet. They have the same goal as in their previous four quad meets this season.

“In every quad meet, we approached it like a regional meet,” said Arizona head coach John Court. “The goal is to come in first or second. Every quad meet that we’ve done this year, we have come in either first or second.”

Coming in first or second in their session on Friday, Apr. 4 would mean moving on to the Regional Final. That will be held on Sunday, Apr. 6.

The three teams standing in their way are No. 7 Missouri, No. 10 Georgia, and No. 26 Arizona State.

It’s not the worst draw in the world. The GymCats would not have to face No. 2 Oklahoma unless both teams reach the finals in their region. Missouri and Georgia are very good, but Oklahoma is another challenge altogether. As for ASU, UA has already beaten them twice this season.

“I think we have a great shot of making Sweet 16 at regionals,” said senior Elena Deets. “So, super exciting for us as a team, and for me, I just want to go out there and soak in every moment.”

The GymCats will lean hard on a quartet of seniors that includes Deets, Alysen Fears, Emily Mueller, and Elizabeth LaRusso. The group typically accounts for 12 of the 24 routines in every meet. Fears and Mueller are both all-arounders. LaRusso performs vault and floor exercise. Deets does bars and beam.

The performances Deets has put together this season earned her recognition as the co-honoree for the Big 12 Event Specialist of the Year award.

However, as a team, the GymCats believe they could have done better this year. They did not build as much as they wanted as the year progressed. They had some meets where experienced gymnasts had uncharacteristic errors. They hope that’s a learning experience for those coming back.

“It takes a full roster…and everyone being the best version of themselves in here,” Court said. “And if that’s happening [next year], we’ll be good. That totally didn’t happen this year. We were probably about 85 percent.”

Amelia Rock is one of the gymnasts who will be taking the experience from this year and building on it. The freshman dealt with an injury early in the season, but she had the opportunity to get into the beam rotation during some late meets. She earned a career high of 9.825 at the Big 12 Championships on Mar. 22. She may get that opportunity again at regionals.

“As the year’s going on, I’m glad I’ve been able to contribute more,” Rock said. “It’s been fun on beam and stuff. I’m feeling really good right now. I feel like I’m in a really good spot with my team, and I’m feeling really comfortable and consistent.”

It would be a huge accomplishment for Rock if she is in the lineup on Friday. Not only is it the biggest meet of her short collegiate career, but it’s taking place about an hour from her home in Buckley, Wash.

“Going home for a big meet like this, it’s really exciting,” Buck said. “I think the energy is going to be great. I have been to the UW meets, like growing up, my whole life, so it’ll be really cool to compete there and kind of have like a home crowd in a sense. My whole family is able to come, and my friends will be there. I think my club gym is gonna try to come. So I’m really excited to just go back and see everyone.”

It’s a good thing that Rock will have supporters in the stands. Washington is the host school but the Huskies did not qualify for the postseason this year. One of their gymnasts qualified as an individual and will be rotating with the GymCats, but there will be no hometown team for local fans to support.

“They’ve set some record crowds this year in Seattle, but that’s also when the team is playing,” Court said.

Arizona has one goal whether the event is well-attended or not. The GymCats want to get to Sunday. Should the team fall short, Court believes that they could have individual qualifiers move on to compete at nationals.

Session 1 of the Seattle Regional Semifinals gets underway at 1 p.m. on Friday, Apr. 4. It will be streamed on ESPN+.

Recruiting notes

Arizona got verbal commitments from two gymnasts in the 2026 class over the past few days.

Avery Tarico out of Gold Medal Gymnastics in Chandler, Ariz. announced her commitment on Mar. 31. Her high scores in Level 10 are 38.400 in the all-around, 9.500 on vault, 9.600 on bars, 9.850 on balance beam, and 9.875 on floor exercise. She also visited ASU.
Olivia Sawyer out of Texas Dreams also announced her commitment on Mar. 31. Her level 10 high scores are 38.000 in the all-around, 9.425 on vault, 9.550 on bars, 9.675 on floor exercise, and 9.550 on beam.

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Arizona

Multiple freeways closed as snow moves into northern Arizona

Published

11 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Multiple freeways closed as snow moves into northern Arizona

A winter storm sweeping across the state was dumping snow and whipping up gusty winds in northern Arizona, forcing multiple highway closures and travel advisories throughout the region.

Snow moved into the high country early Jan. 8 and was expected to continue through the afternoon and evening. Flagstaff had picked up 2 to 4 inches, with snow reaching lower elevations, including Prescott and Sedona, according to the National Weather Service in Flagstaff.

“In our area we expect it to come to an end here later this afternoon and early this evening, with only an inch or two more here in the Flagstaff area,” said Brian Klimowski, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Flagstaff. “It’s going to continue this evening and overnight to our east.”

Snow levels dropped as a cold front moved into the region, falling from about 6,000 feet at sunrise to as low as 4,000 feet by late evening. Forecasters say heavier snow was likely this afternoon and evening as the system moves through.

“Roads are bad right now,” Klimowski said. “The highways will be very slick, and we expect conditions will remain in a deteriorated state here this afternoon to this evening, especially along and east of the I-17 corridor.”

Which highways are closed in northern Arizona?

Several major highways across the high country were closed on Jan. 8 due to winter weather and related crashes, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

As of the afternoon, the following closures were in place:

Interstate 40 eastbound at US 93 (milepost 72)
Interstate 40 eastbound at State Route 89 in Ash Fork (milepost 146)
Northbound Interstate 17 at State Route 169 (milepost 278)
State Route 64 (both directions) between mileposts 244-264

ADOT said there is no estimated reopening time for any of these highways.

Drivers can check the latest road closures and travel conditions through ADOT’s AZ511 system, with an online interactive map and mobile app. Information is available at AZ511.gov or by calling 511 from within Arizona.

Snow, wind and cold persist

Flagstaff could see snow totals around 2 to 5 inches, with more at the higher elevations. Snow will continue across eastern Arizona into the evening Jan. 8 and early on Jan. 9, including parts of Black Mesa, the Chinle Valley and the Chuska Mountains.

Gusty winds could reduce visibility, especially in areas with blowing snow. Winds will shift northerly overnight, summoning colder air as the system departs.

“It’s going to dry out,” Klimowski said. “It’s going to be cold and blustery tomorrow and then a slow warming trend through much of next week.”

Lows on Jan. 9 will be 10 to 15 degrees below normal, with wind chills near zero in the High Country. While snow will cease by Jan. 9, slick roads and hazardous conditions could remain,

“Be careful if you’re traveling tonight,” Klimowski said. “It’s going to be slick out there.”

Why does it snow so much in Flagstaff? Here’s what to know

Flagstaff may be in a state known for its scorching summers and years-long droughts, but it is one of the snowiest cities in the United States.

Hayleigh Evans writes about extreme weather and related topics for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Email her with story tips at hayleigh.evans@arizonarepublic.com.

(This story has been updated to add a new video).

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Arizona

Arizona, career nights from Burries, Krivas beat K-State

Published

23 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Arizona, career nights from Burries, Krivas beat K-State

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Brayden Burries scored 28 points, Motiejus Krivas added a career-high 25 and No. 1 Arizona remained unbeaten with a 101-76 win over Kansas State on Wednesday night.

Arizona (15-0, 2-0 Big 12) is off to its best start since winning the first 21 games of the 2013-14 season. Arizona won by at least 18 points for the 10th consecutive game, matching a mark Michigan had earlier this season that tied for the longest such run since 2003-04.

Burries had his fifth 20-point game and matched his career high by going 12 for 16 from the field while adding nine rebounds. It was his 10th straight game in double figures, including at least 20 points in five of those, after just one over his first five.

Krivas was 7 of 10, making 11 of 13 free throws, and had 12 rebounds.

Koa Peat had 15 points and 10 rebounds and Tobe Awaka added nine and 11 as Arizona outrebounded Kansas State 55-32. Arizona shot 49.3% from the field but was just 3 of 16 from 3-point range.

Kansas State (9-6, 0-2) went 8 for 36 from deep and shot 33.8% overall. PJ Haggerty led the way with 19 points on 8-of-20 shooting, while Nate Johnson added 15 and Dorin Buca 12.

Down 15 at the half, Kansas State pulled within 58-49 with 16:09 left on a 3-pointer by Johnson. Arizona responded with a 6-0 run and kept the margin at least 12 the rest of the way. Back-to-back dunks by Burries and Peat and a corner 3-pointer by Jaden Bradley keyed a 13-0 run to put Arizona ahead 92-65 with 3:31 remaining.

It built a 10-point lead less than six minutes into the game and upped it to 20 with 2:52 left in the first half. Burries had 16 before halftime.

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Arizona

Arizona HS football’s No. 1 2027 prospect has ASU, Miami high on list

Published

1 day ago

January 7, 2026

Press Room

Arizona HS football’s No. 1 2027 prospect has ASU, Miami high on list

Hildebrand is ranked as the No. 13 overall offensive tackle in the nation for the 2027 class by 247Sports.
Arizona State, Miami, Alabama, Texas A&M and USC are among his current favorites.
The 6-foot-6 left tackle has started every varsity game since his freshman year at Chandler Basha.

Chandler Basha left tackle Jake Hildebrand, the state’s No. 1 2027 college football prospect, said Arizona State and Miami are among the top potential schools on his recently revealed 10-best list.

Miami is playing in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl as part of the College Football Playoff semifinal against Ole Miss at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Jan. 8.

Hildebrand, 6-foot-6, 293 pounds, has started every varsity game since his freshman year and helped lead the Bears to the Open Division state title this past season. He won’t be able to attend the Fiesta Bowl because he’s in San Antonio, getting ready to play in the Jan. 10 Navy All-American Bowl. The game airs at 11 a.m. MST on NBC.

Hildebrand also has CFP semifinalists Indiana and Oregon, along with Texas A&M, Alabama, USC, Ohio State and Texas among his top 10 colleges.

“A few schools that are my favorite from the top 10 are ASU, Alabama, Texas A&M, Miami and USC,” Hildebrand said in a direct message to The Arizona Republic. “They have definitely been the schools that have been contacting me the most and built the best relationship with.”

There is no timetable for when Hildebrand will commit. He could wait until he makes trips this spring, summer and fall. But he is among the most coveted left tackles in the country, who has 38 offers, according to 247Sports.

The 247Sports Composite has Hildebrand ranked as the No. 13 overall offensive tackle in the country in the 2027 class. He is ranked No. 1 in the class of 2027 by The Republic.

Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. Catch the best high school sports coverage in the state. Sign up for Azcentral Preps Now. And be sure to subscribe to our daily sports newsletters so you don’t miss a thing. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert

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