John Court named UA gymnastics head coach
After 19 years as an assistant coach of the Arizona gymnastics team, John Court finally gets the reins as head coach for the 2018-2019 season.
Court made his way to Arizona in August of 1998 after being at the University of Vermont for five seasons. For the last three seasons at Vermont, 23-year-old Court took his first head coaching position, but knew that he eventually wanted a bigger opportunity.
"I saw the ad for the job at Arizona in the NCAA news and I applied not thinking really anything was going to happen," Court said. "I received a phone call from former head coach Bill Ryden to talk and he flew in three canidates and I ended up getting the offer and accepting it."
Making his way to the hot desert of Tucson, Ariz., Court impacted the Arizona gymnastics program right from the start. After two seasons with the gymnastics team, Court began to feel home sick contemplating if staying at Arizona was the right thing.
"I didn’t know if it was really for me," Court said, "but I enjoyed the community and made new friends. In year three or four we [Arizona] won a National Championship."
Court remained a Wildcat for the next 19 years and has learned many things while being at Arizona.
"You aren't just a coach," Court said. "We are educators, you have to be competitive, have disapline, have fun and graduate your players. The responsibility toward the student athletes have never changed and that's where I think I have been consistent and helped throughout the years."
And for the Arizona gymnastics team, Court has been the only constant for the GymCats. Former head coach Bill Ryden was relieved from Arizona after the 2015 season after being with Arizona for 15 years. In 2016, Tabitha Yim was named Arizona's head coach, but quickly left back to her alum matter at Stanford after serving two seasons with the GymCats.
Court remained at the heart of Arizona and was named interim head coach for the 2018 season. During the 2018 season Court led the team to many accomplishments including setting a new school record on the balance beam of 49.525.
"John has been an asset to Arizona gymnastics for 20 years, and we believe he is prepared to lead our program to new levels in the coming years," Arizona athletic director Dave Heeke said according to Arizona Athletics. "John stepped up during a difficult coaching transition prior to this season and has provided the leadership and stability needed for our student-athletes to compete at a high level. He's earned the opportunity to be our head coach and we think he will to a tremendous job in this role."
When 'interim' was removed from Court's title, he was speechless. Accepting the position, Court says he is prepared for the next step as a Wildcat and is grateful for being apart of the Arizona community.
"I am looking forward to the future, thats for sure," Court said.
The end of the journey
"Unlike many sports, this one [gymnatics] has an expiration date," senior GymCat Kennady Schneider said.
The 2018 season has come to an end meaning saying goodbye to the three seniors: Schneider, Victoria Ortiz and Madison Cindric. Impacting the team in many ways throughout their tie at Arizona, the three GymCats have never stopped tumbling and flipping throughout their four seasons.
It may be the last time the three athletes compete for Arizona, but the memories are unforgettable. The three seniors have experienced many ups and downs throughout their colligate career.
During the 2014-2015 season, the three of them dominated the gym as freshman. After their first season Arizona underwent a coaching change and brought on Tabitha Yim. Under her coaching for two seasons, the three of them continued to grow and learn new skills. In their final season as GymCats, they went through another coaching change, but this time it was someone they knew would make their final season memorable.
The 2017-2018 season has come to an end and the three GymCats were able to grab ahold of new season and career highs. Schneider was able to tie all her career highs this season with a 9.925 on floor and 9.850 on the balance beam. Cindric hit new career highs on vault with a 9.875, balance beam with 9.950 and floor earning a 9.875. Ortiz wasn't seen on her specialty, the uneven bars, in every meet this season, but still earned a season high of 9.900. Ortiz became a constant beam worker for the GymCats and was able to earn a career high during her senior year of a 9.925.
GymCats season highs
Uneven bars
The uneven bars were Arizona's strongest event this season and it showed through their scores. Arizona anchor, sophomore Christina Berg, was a reliable competitor when the 'Cats were in need for high numbers.
Since day one of being a Wildcat, Ortiz has specialized on bars, but this season fans saw less of her on the event. Ortiz was still able to flip her way to a solid 9.900 to finish out collegiate career.
Arizona's season high as a team was a 49.375, which was hit during the meet against Arkansas on March 2.
Christina Berg : 9.925
Madison Cindric: 9.875
Haylie Hendrickson: 9.875
Maddi Leydin: 9.850
Victoria Ortiz: 9.900
Kennady Schneider: 9.800
Danielle Spencer: 9.850
Photo of Haylie Hendrickson
Vault
Scores remained consistent through the season on vault for Arizona. The GymCats execution off the vault was strong, but their landing was a constant struggle.
Unable to have solid landings, Arizona still found new high scores including freshman Peyton Bellows who earned career high of 9.950 during the meet against Utah on Jan. 26.
Payton Bellows: 9.950
Madison Cindric: 9.875
Courtney Cowles: 9.825
Jenny Leung: 9.775
Maddi Leydin: 9.800
Lauryn Mattson: 9.875
Adra Parks: 9.750
Heather Swanson: 9.825
Photo of Madison Cinidric
Balance beam
Balance beam remains the toughest event for the GymCats. Arizona was able to grab high scores on this event including Madison Cindric earning a new career high of 9.950 and Courtney Cowles with 9.925.
The event was the lowest scoring event for Arizona until their meet against Arkansas when they set a new record on beam of 49.525.
Madison Cindric: 9.950
Courtney Cowles: 9.925
Sydney Fredin: 9.250
Haylie Hendrickson: 9.875
Jenny Leung: 9.725
Maddi Leydin: 9.825
Victoria Ortiz: 9.925
Kennady Schneider: 9.850
Photo of Victoria Ortiz
Floor exercise
The Wildcats were always able to come to the floor with full energy. Throughout the season the GymCats executed their routines to their full potential.
This event showed dominance from many of the GymCats including senior Kennady Schneider and Lauryn Mattson who both earned season highs of 9.925. Freshman Payton Bellows and Adra Parks became strong competitors on the floor throughout the season.
Payton Bellows: 9.875
Christina Berg: 9.875
Madison Cindric: 9.875
Haylie Hendrickson: 9.350
Maddi Leydin: 9.825
Lauryn Mattson: 9.925
Adra Parks: 9.825
Kennady Schneider: 9.925
Photo of Kennady Schneider
The 2018 Pac-12 Championship comes to McKale Center
Although the GymCats 2018 regular season has come to an end it doesn't mean they are don't just yet. The 2018 Pac-12 Gymnastics Championship will be making its way to McKale Center on Saturday, March 24.
The Championship consist of two sessions, one starting at 1 p.m. and the second session starting at 6 p.m. The team seedings for the event are now set, which was determined by the NCAA regional qualifying scores.
Arizona is currently the No. 8 seed and will be competing in the first session against No. 5 Oregon State, No. 6 Arizona State and No. 7 Stanford. The Wildcats will begin on floor and will hope to get high scores right off the mat. The GymCats currently sit at No. 37 in the NCAA holding an overall record of 4-9.
"We are hosting and that hasn't happened in eight years," Court said. "This will be the last time it will be on a college campus. We are trying to make this the best night of our season."
The UCLA Bruins grabbed ahold of the No. 1 seed in the Pac-12, followed by No. 2 Utah, No. 3 Washington and No. 4 California, who will all be competing in the second session at 6 p.m.
Credits:
Photos by Jose Toro