Going into this weekend’s Pac-10 Championships at Arizona State, the Washington gymnastics team has cleared a hurdle that has been in the back of its collective mind all season.

Last year’s humiliation — failing to qualify to Regionals, the competition that determines which teams will go to the NCAA Championships in Salt Lake City, Utah in April — will not be repeated.

“We really have nothing to lose going into Pac-10s,” coach Joanne Bowers said. “We feel like we’re ready to peak.”

Washington’s mantra all season has focused on improvement and performing consistently in all four events. It’s a goal that hasn’t always been accomplished. But if they’re going to challenge top-ranked Stanford or No. 2 UCLA, they’ll need to be nearly perfect.

The Huskies will begin the competition on floor and vault, two of their strongest events, and end it on the always-perilous balance beam. A long road trip during the past month means the team has become accustomed to ending the competitions on beam, which may help them at ASU.

But as it has been all season, the competition will be fierce. Stanford and UCLA will be looking to avenge their own disappointments from last year, which included neither team advancing to the 2006 NCAA Championships. Oregon State will be looking for a strong finish to gain momentum going into Regionals, where they hope to earn a team berth to the NCAAs for the second year in a row. Upsetting UCLA or Stanford would do the trick.

The top three teams will also have to hold off the Arizona schools, which are competing on home territory.

Washington wants to improve its ranking, which is currently sixth out of seven in the Pac-10.

“Everyone’s working really hard,” senior Chelsea Bakken said, adding that the team has been preparing by doing surprise on-the-spot beam routines in the gym to get used to performing under pressure. “It’s just all mental right now. We’re ready physically obviously, and this time of the season, it’s just how tough mentally can you be.”

Individually, sophomore Ashley Houghting enters the meet poised to be in the top three on vault and floor. Junior Nikki Waiss, whose bars scores have been on a steady upswing all season, is ranked in the top 10 for the event, and sophomores Kelly Gilbert and Kristen Omori are in the hunt for top-20 finishes on the balance beam.

The team will also be receiving help from Bakken on three events. Bakken, who sprained her ankle in training several weeks ago, may return to the floor lineup, where she can provide the Huskies with a big score if she hits. Junior Raimey Iselin, who tore her meniscus in training earlier in the season, made a surprise comeback against Seattle Pacific University last weekend and could be an upset contender on bars.

Reach reporter Blythe Lawrence at sports@thedaily.washington.edu.