Arizona GymCats Face Washington Huskies in Season Opener

The Arizona GymCats are set to begin their gymnastics season with a competition against the Washington Huskies on January 9, 2026, at 6 p.m. MST. This match will take place at the McKale Center in Tucson, Arizona. While the college gymnastics season officially commenced last week, Arizona will be making its debut, looking to establish its presence in a competitive landscape.

The Huskies enter the meet with a record of 1-2, having recently finished third at the Best of the West meet. In that event, Washington managed to secure a victory against Oregon State, which was ranked 17th in the USA Gymnastics preseason poll. However, the team faced defeats against No. 4 UCLA and No. 20 California, which highlighted areas for improvement as they prepare for the upcoming challenge in Tucson.

GymCats’ Strong Lineup and Key Competitors

The GymCats, currently ranked 18th, showcased their talent during an exhibition in December, which offered insights into the team’s potential strength and depth for the season. In that annual showcase, the athletes were divided into Red and Blue squads, with only the balance beam event featuring two lineups of six competitors. This reflects a long-standing strength in beam performance for Arizona.

This year, depth will play an even more crucial role than in the previous season. The GymCats had three all-around competitors last year, including Alysen Fears, Emily Mueller, and Abigayle Martin. Among them, Martin is the only returnee, but head coach John Court anticipates that freshman Hillary Puleo will soon be competing in all four events.

The success of the GymCats will rely heavily on the performances of Martin, senior Emma Strom, and redshirt senior Liz LaRusso. Martin is expected to continue her all-around competition, while Strom brings her versatility, competing in all events except for bars, with career highs of 9.925 on both beam and floor exercise. LaRusso, similarly, competes in all areas except for beam, holding a career high of 9.900 on floor.

Event Details and Streaming Information

As the GymCats look to make their mark this season, they are aware of the high expectations placed upon them. With a particular focus on the vault, where all three key competitors have recorded career highs of 9.875, maintaining clean performances will be vital. The team aims to shine in events where the lack of 10.0 start values poses challenges.

Fans can watch the highly anticipated meet against the Huskies on ESPN+. Live statistics and scores will also be available on the Arizona Virtius platform, ensuring supporters can follow the GymCats’ journey closely as they embark on what promises to be an exciting season.