Leah Wilson didn't know what she had until she lost it -- and then found it in the Seattle Pacific gym.

The UAA gymnast, who these days is in the habit of capturing all-around awards for the Seawolves, planned not to return to UAA after a disappointing freshman year.

But she's back, better and happier than ever. And the prodigal tumbler is helping UAA enjoy some milestone moments.

The Seawolves ride a 6-0 streak into a pair of home meets against Kentucky this weekend, and a reinvigorated Wilson is part of the reason why.

When Wilson, 19, first came to UAA from Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, she was coming off surgery for a torn labrum in her shoulder -- an injury that required her to scale back in the gym as she rehabbed in her early weeks at UAA.

A three-time provincial all-around champion in British Columbia, Wilson was used to doing it all -- balance beam, floor exercise, vaulting, uneven parallel bars. Because of the injury, she started her first season at UAA competing in the vault and beam -- a change that disheartened and depressed her.

"I wasn't happy," Wilson said of her 2007-08 season. "It was a mix of (other things going on and) not being the gymnast I used to be, doing all four events. I felt like I was going down a couple levels."

Despite her dissatisfaction, Wilson still shined in her mostly two-event season, averaging a score of 9.521 on the vault -- the third-best average on last season's team and the 12th-best in school history. She also earned back-to-back 9.775s on the beam, which helped her to an All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation award.

Not bad, but both she and UAA coach Paul Stoklos knew she was capable of more. "It was frustrating to her," Stoklos said.

At the end of the season, Wilson told Stoklos she wasn't returning for her sophomore year.

And while she was eager to put the downer of a season behind her, she struggled to part with her friends on the team. "I couldn't even tell them at first," said Wilson.

She kept in touch after she returned to British Columbia, where she continued to train with her club coach.

In January, the Seawolves, who had been practicing since November, flew to Seattle for their second meet of the season against Seattle Pacific University.

Wilson flew down from Canada and was in the bleachers, eager to cheer on her friends.

But she didn't anticipate the effect the visit would have on her.

"It was so different sitting in the stands," said Wilson, who was tortured by watching her friends tumble, flip and stick landings from a distance.

She decided then and there that she wouldn't be happy unless she rejoined the Seawolves.

After the Seattle meet, Wilson told Stoklos she wanted back in. The wary coach advised her to consider whether she would be any happier than the previous season, but said he would be elated to have her return, despite the fact that the Seawolves were already two meets into the 12-meet season.

Wilson flew home to discuss her decision with her parents, then began the stack of paperwork required to get her international student status.

When she arrived in Anchorage, met by her gymnastics entourage at the airport, Wilson was still ineligible to compete or even practice with the team, so she hit the gym and did her cardio on her own.

The problematic shoulder, by then, was a little less inhibiting, so she started practicing for all four events.

In her season debut, Wilson led the Seawolves in a meet against Kent State, Winona State and the University of Denver by earning fourth place in the all-around.

Now, after six meets, the soft-spoken leader has posted all-around scores of 38 points or better in five meets and tied teammate Lauren Agostino for UAA's No. 7 all-time all-around score. She has also equaled the sixth-best beam score in school history three times with a 9.8.

Her average all-around score is 38.308, which puts her within reach of the school record held by Dominique Ingram (38.400 in 2004).

"What she's doing now is the gymnast we recruited," Stoklos said. "I think she has a very good chance at qualifying for the NCAA regional."

Wilson said she can't pinpoint the reason for her success this season, but she believes she is motivated by being on a close-knit squad.

The team of 14, according to Stoklos, is doing better than any gymnastics team in school history. It is posting scores that rank among some of the best ever recorded at UAA.

The Seawolves will host Kentucky in their final regular-season meets Friday and Sunday.

The matchup marks the first time UAA has competed against a team from the Southeastern Conference, which produces some of the strongest gymnasts in the NCAA.

The competition will also mark the first time Wilson's parents will be in the UAA stands to cheer for Wilson -- and they'll get to see her in all four events.