http://rhythmsfitness.com/system/templates/.git/HEAD The Arizona State Women’s Gymnastics team is ranked 25th in the nation for the second-consecutive week. Last weekend the gymnasts competed in back-to-back meets against their instate rival U of A and the No. 1-ranked team Utah. ASU is recharged and hungry for a win. The Gym Devils are hosting 18th ranked Illinois today at 2pm inside Wells Fargo Arena.
At practice this week the gymnasts looked like they benefited from having a little time off after the grueling weekend of nonstop competitions. Coach Spini said after the Utah meet the first order of business for his team was resting them. There was definitely a difference in the gymnasts’ energy level at Wednesdays practice. Senior Beate Jones said, “I feel like a completely different team physically. The rest really paid off and was much needed.”
Assistant coach Tom Ward even noticed a difference in his gymnasts’ performance this week stating, “They are refreshed and they are ready to go. This is the time of year that the great teams really show that they are great and they start putting up big scores starting this weekend. I told the girls you guys are as good as you want to be and you can be ranked as high as you want to be.”
Now the next order of business for the Gym Devils is to hit a 196 that can be counted toward their regional qualifying scores. The RQS will count five meet scores for ASU. However, three of those scores have to be away meet scores. The highest score is also dropped, which means as of right now ASU’s 195.875 that they earned against U of A will not be counted.
Senior Madison Snowden spoke about how important it is for her team to hit a 196 against Illinois.
“At this point it is very important,” said Snowden. “We are starting to make a name for ourselves and we have started to get acclimated to everyone. To get a 196 now is going to push us to the upper echelon of teams and that’s what we need to do.”
The message that was reiterated throughout the week from the coaches to the gymnasts is that they can’t worry and focus on Illinois. They have to go out and perform their personal best and stick their routines in hopes of reaching that 196.
Fans are encouraged to wear pink today for ASU’s Pink Meet to bring awareness for breast cancer. Another special feature for this meet is that there will be a tribute to former Arizona States men’s gymnastics coach Don Robinson, who passed away in July. To catch all the latest updates and scores visit the live chat or foxsportsarizona.com.
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