Citizen Staff Writer
BRYAN LEE
brylee@tucsoncitizen.com
When senior gymnast Bree Workman ended her floor time Friday with sturdy balance and arms and smile poised, University of Arizona coach Bill Ryden knew the night was won.
“She clinched it then,” Ryden said of Workman’s 9.85 score that helped beat archrival Arizona State 195.75-195.25. “It was crucial.”
For Workman, it was ice in the veins.
“I do really well under pressure,” she said. “I’m that much better when it’s on the line.”
Workman added a 9.8 in the vault, Deanna Graham had a 9.9 in the vault and Beamer Bergeson scored a 9.9 in the beam and a 9.85 in the floor to complement Workman in the No. 19 Gymcats’ third straight win.
Workman sported a thick ice pack on her left calf, a reminder of the price she has paid over four years.
“Shin splits and stress fractures forever . . .” she said. “I can’t use my left arm anymore. I can’t do bars because I can’t hold on and I can’t do beam because I can’t balance.”
But it’s worth it, she said, especially getting back at ASU, which UA beat in the last event last year in Tempe.
“The freshmen don’t understand the rivalry but they’re learning,” Workman said. “Last year their crowd booed us. Not really very classy.”
Youth bowling
Tucsonan Amanda Hollenbaugh and Kyle Mauerman of Tremont, Ill., have been selected as the United States Bowling Congress Youth Ambassadors of the Year.
The awards recognize USBC Youth bowlers for exemplary contributions in the sport of bowling, academic accomplishments and community involvement. Awarded annually to one male and one female bowler, each winner will receive a $1,500 scholarship and be presented the award at the USBC Convention in Reno this spring.
Hollenbaugh, 18, attends the Broadway campus of AmeriSchools College Preparatory Academy. She will attend the University of Arizona in the fall.
“When I got the call that I had been chosen I was amazed and excited,” Hollenbaugh told bowl.com.
“I didn’t really think I would be chosen, but I guess drive, determination, enthusiasm, smiles, and hard work pays off and gets recognized.”
Hollenbaugh volunteers to coach kids in the after-school bowling program at Lucky Strike Bowl and has taken an active role in her Saturday junior league.
She edits and publishes a monthly newsletter with the help of three reporters who are junior league bowlers, and has suggested and helped institute committees for different projects despite working two part-time jobs.
UA tennis
The Wildcat men beat visiting Texas Tech 4-3 on Friday, while the Arizona women lost 4-3 at San Diego State.
Citizen Staff Report
Workman leads UA gymnasts to win