The Gym Devils team will try to give ASU a 6.5-1.5 lead over Arizona in the Territorial Cup in the annual rivalry meet on Monday.
ASU is excited about the meet, by head coach René Lyst said the team is focused on improving last week's team score (194.725).
“Obviously, being new, I’m still getting into the fervor of it all, but we are excited to have U of A come up here,” Lyst said. “They have a new coaching staff and are having a good season so far, so we’re looking forward to competing against them on our territory and to push them to the limits.”
Last season, Arizona beat ASU on their home mat 196.625-195.375. The Gym Devils set a team high score at the meet.
Freshman Heather Udowitch is looking forward to her first rivalry experience at ASU.
“I’m so excited for U of A, the hype is there, you feel it in the University, there’s so much pride going into this meet, I think everyone is really excited," she said.
Tucson native and ASU freshman Corinne Belkoff is proud to be a part of ASU for this meet and to show her friends what she's been working on, she said after last week's meet against Cal.
While a majority of the young team will be experiencing their first Arizona meet, the seniors will be competing for the last time against the Wildcats. Taylor Allex said they're excited for their last matchup.
“This has been something that’s been going on for I don’t know how many years, but it’s the legacy, and everyone loves the rivalry,” she said. “It’s very exciting for me and it’s an awesome experience that I get to be a part of.”
Despite the rivalry, Allex said this meet is no different than any other team.
“It’s just another team. Yes, it is U of A and it’s very exciting, but tomorrow I have to be focused and just go do what I always do,” she said.
Seniors Allie Salas and Carissa Kraus have a different mindset going up against Arizona.
“I’m more aggressive in my skills,” Salas said. “I want to attack my routines and hit them to the best of my ability.”
Kraus has been excited for a few weeks, since the moment she realized the date for the meet was approaching, she said after the Cal meet last week.
"Going against them is always a lot of fun because it's a rivalry and it makes everything more exciting, especially with the fans, too," Kraus said.
For Salas, her favorite Territorial Cup moment was when the Gym Devils beat Arizona her sophomore year at Wells Fargo.
“That was the most incredible feeling,” Salas said.
ASU and Arizona both enter the matchup 0-4 in the Pac-12. ASU is 1-7 overall, while Arizona is 2-4. Action will begin at 7 p.m.
Reach the reporter at haley.stesiak@asu.edu or follow @haley_stesiak on Twitter.
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