Arizona
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.
Arizona
WATCH: How Helping One Woman provides hope and support with ‘Girl’s Night Out’
PEORIA, AZ — What if a simple dinner could help someone rebuild their life? In Peoria, a local chapter of Helping One Woman is doing just that by gathering once a month for a “Girls Night Out” with a powerful purpose.
Each month, women in the community nominate someone facing an unimaginable challenge: the loss of a spouse or child, a cancer diagnosis, or another life-altering hardship. That woman becomes the evening’s honoree.
At the dinner, attendees each contribute at least $10 and take part in raffles supported by local businesses. By the end of the night, the funds raised are gifted directly to the recipient to help with expenses during a difficult time.
But organizers say the money is only part of the impact. The room full of encouragement, hugs, and shared support can be just as powerful.
ABC15’s Cameron Polom talked with the Peoria chapter president and two women whose lives were changed thanks to the group’s generosity. See the full Uplifting Arizona story in the video player above.
See more from Uplifting Arizona:
Arizona
What have the Cardinals done in NFL free agency? – Arizona Sports
The NFL’s legal tampering window is officially open, and it didn’t take long for the Arizona Cardinals to get in the mix.
A running list of the new names and familiar faces coming to Arizona in 2026:
New names on Cardinals roster this free agency
Kendrick Bourne
The former San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots wide receiver brings another body to Arizona’s wide receivers room that includes Michael Wilson and Marvin Harrison Jr.
He’s got plenty of familiarity with new Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur from their time together in San Francisco (2017-20). Bourne also spent a year with expected Cardinals starter Jacoby Brissett in 2024 with the Patriots.
The wide receiver caught 37 passes for 551 yards in 16 games played (eight starts) last year.
He’s now on board for two years in Arizona.
Isaac Seumalo
The guard spent the past three years with the Pittsburgh Steelers after a seven-season stint with the Philadelphia Eagles.
He’s started 104 out of 125 games played and has spent time at both left and right guard during his NFL career.
According to Next Gen Stats, the guard allowed a 3.7% pressure rate last year. That was the lowest rate among all eligible guards in 2025.
Gardner Minshew
Minshew agreed to terms on a one-year deal on Monday.
He’s expected to back up expected starter Jacoby Brissett in 2026, according to Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro.
Coming off his seventh NFL season and first with the Kansas City Chiefs, Minshew appeared in four games (one start) last year. He completed 46.2% of his throws for 37 yards and an interception.
Before landing with the Chiefs, Minshew spent time with the Las Vegas Raiders (2024), Indianapolis Colts (2023), Philadelphia Eagles (2021-22) and Jacksonville Jaguars (2019-20).
RB Tyler Allgeier
Allgeier comes over to Arizona on a reported two-year contract.
Before agreeing to terms on the $12.25 million deal with Arizona on Monday, Allgeier played four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons.
He ran for 514 yards and eight touchdowns on 143 carries last year, while adding another 14 catches for 96 yards.
While he worked mostly behind Bijan Robinson the past three years, Allgeier did surpass the 1,000-yard mark as a rookie in 2022.
Familiar faces
L.J. Collier
Collier is back on a one-year deal.
The defensive lineman appeared in four games in 2025 due to a knee injury suffered in Week 2.
He recorded six tackles and two QB hits in what was his third season with the team.
Roy Lopez
After a one-year stint with the Detroit Lions, Lopez is back with his hometown team on a reported two-year deal.
In 17 games played last year, he recorded two sacks, four tackles for loss and a pass defensed.
Before his time in Detroit, Lopez spent two seasons with Arizona from 2023-24. During that span, he registered a sack, six tackles for loss, three passes defensed and a forced fumble in 30 games played (21 starts).
K Chad Ryland
Ryland is back on a one-year deal, the team announced.
Ryland went through plenty of struggles last season after a having a career year in 2024. His accuracy dropped from 87.5% in 2024 to 75.8% last season. He was especially inconsistent from 40 yards and on, compiling a 13-of-20 mark (65%). Inside 40 yards, though, Ryland was 12-of-13 (92.3%).
Arizona brought in kicker Josh Karty late in the year (more on him later), but Ryland never gave up his role and appeared in all 17 games.
A one-year deal isn’t going to break the bank by any means.
P Blake Gillikin
The Cardinals must feel pretty good about where Gillikin is at in his recovering from a back injury last year with their signing of the punter to a one-year deal.
Before he went down five games into the season, the punter was leading the league in yards per punt with 51.7.
Not only that, across his five seasons (65 games) in the NFL, he holds the all-time record for yards per punt at 48.5.
Staying healthy is key for Gillikin, who also missed time in 2024 due to an ankle injury.
RB James Conner
Technically not a free agent, Conner was a potential cut candidate given his contract.
But after reportedly revising his deal, Conner is returning for his sixth season with the Cardinals.
The running back brings plenty of leadership and a bruising running style to the mix.
He’s coming off an abbreviated 2025 (three games) due to an ankle injury but had rushed for a pair of 1,000-yard seasons the two years prior. He scored at least seven rushing touchdowns each season from 2022-24.
CB Sean Murphy-Bunting
Much like Conner, Murphy-Bunting was another prime cut candidate due to his contract but reportedly revised his deal with Arizona as well.
Murphy-Bunting has a lot to prove after missing all of 2025 due to an injury suffered away from the team facility.
In his first season with the Cardinals, the cornerback recorded 52 tackles, three interceptions, five passes defensed and two forced fumbles across 15 starts.
Arizona
Arizona’s Jaden Bradley named Big 12 men’s basketball player of year
Arizona Duke and Michigan lead race for top seeds in March Madness
Arizona, Duke, and Michigan hold strong as top contenders for men’s March Madness number one seeds with UConn and Houston battling for the final spot.
The Arizona men’s basketball team went 29-2 overall and 16-2 in the Big 12, winning the conference’s regular season title.
The Wildcats were rewarded for their dominance in the Big 12’s men’s basketball awards, which were announced on March 9.
Arizona’s Jaden Bradley was named the Big 12 Player of the Year, while Tobe Awaka earned the conference’s Sixth Man of the Year award and coach Tommy Lloyd earned Coach of the Year accolades.
Bradley averaged 13.4 points and 4.6 assists. Awaka was the nation’s leading rebounder off the bench, averaging 9.7 rebounds and 9.9 points when entering the game as a reserve. Lloyd led Arizona to its first Big 12 regular-season title.
Arizona State was completely shut out of the awards, with Moe Odum not receiving honorable mention honors despite averaging 17.1 points per game and 5.9 assists per game for the Sun Devils.
2026 Phillips 66 All-Big 12 Men’s Basketball Awards
- Player of the Year: Jaden Bradley, Arizona
- Defensive Player of the Year: Flory Bidunga, Kansas
- Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
- Freshman of the Year: AJ Dybantsa, BYU
- Newcomer of the Year: Melvin Council Jr., Kansas
- Sixth Man Award: Tobe Awaka, Arizona*
- Most Improved: Christian Anderson, Texas Tech
- Coach of the Year: Tommy Lloyd, Arizona
All-Big 12 First Team
- Jaden Bradley, Arizona
- Brayden Burries, Arizona
- Motiejus Krivas, Arizona
- AJ Dybantsa, BYU*
- Emanuel Sharp, Houston
- Kingston Flemings, Houston*
- Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State
- Flory Bidunga, Kansas
- Christian Anderson, Texas Tech
- JT Toppin, Texas Tech*
All-Big 12 Second Team
- Richie Saunders, BYU
- Baba Miller, Cincinnati
- Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
- Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State
- Darryn Peterson, Kansas
All-Big 12 Third Team
- Koa Peat, Arizona
- Cameron Carr, Baylor
- Rob Wright, BYU
- Themus Fulks, UCF
- Xavier Edmonds, TCU
All-Big 12 Honorable Mention:
- Arizona: Tobe Awaka
- Baylor: Tounde Yessoufou
- Cincinnati: Moustapha Thiam
- Colorado: Isaiah Johnson
- Houston: Joseph Tugler, Milos Uzan
- Kansas: Melvin Council Jr.
- Kansas State: PJ Haggerty
- Oklahoma State: Parsa Fallah
- TCU: David Punch
- Texas Tech: Donovan Atwell
- West Virginia: Honor Huff
- Utah: Terrence Brown
All-Defensive Team
- Jaden Bradley, Arizona
- Motiejus Krivas, Arizona
- Emanuel Sharp, Houston
- Joseph Tugler, Houston
- Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
- Flory Bidunga, Kansas*
A tie resulted in an extra position on the team
All-Freshman Team
- Brayden Burries, Arizona*
- Koa Peat, Arizona
- AJ Dybantsa, BYU*
- Kingston Flemings, Houston*
- Darryn Peterson, Kansas*
All-Newcomer Team
- Cameron Carr, Baylor
- Themus Fulks, UCF
- Baba Miller, Cincinnati
- Melvin Council Jr., Kansas
- Donovan Atwell, Texas Tech
*- unanimous selection
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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