Gymnastics

Arkansas Seeks Third Straight Against Alabama

January 25, 2017

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas gymnastics team looks to make it three in a row against Alabama when it hosts the fifth-ranked Crimson Tide on Friday at 7:15 p.m. in Barnhill Arena. The meet will also be broadcast on SEC Network.

The Razorbacks have won each of their last two regular-season meetings with the Crimson Tide, winning 196.375-196.175 in Fayetteville during the 2015 season and winning 196.700-196.400 in Tuscaloosa this past season.

Arkansas has closed strong in meets during the early part of the season, scoring a season-best 49.050 on floor exercise in the final rotation against No. 6 Missouri and a season-best 49.000 on balance beam in the final rotation at No. 16 Georgia.

Jessica Yamzon (9.850) and Sydney McGlone (9.900) won individual titles against Missouri and Georgia, respectively, in the last two weeks. McGlone also scored a career-high 9.900 on vault against Missouri and also led the Razorbacks with a 9.875 on vault and a 9.825 on floor exercise against Georgia.

Alabama, ranked No. 5 in the nation, scored a season best and won its first meet of the season, defeating No. 8 Missouri on the road, 197.225-195.500, this past Friday in Columbia. Alabama is 1-2, with its two losses coming to Oklahoma and LSU, ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the nation, respectively.

The Crimson Tide are one of four teams in the nation with multiple scores of 197 or better through the third week of the season. They are also ranked in the top 10 in the nation in all four events, including No. 2 on balance beam. Kiana Winston ranks sixth in the nation in the all-around and top-10 on uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise.

Notable

  • Arkansas is 4-31-1 all-time against Alabama but has won each of the last two regular-season meetings.
  • Arkansas has had three different individual event winners in two different events this season: Amanda Wellick (Vault at UCLA), Jessica Yamzon (Balance Beam vs. Missouri) and Sydney McGlone (Balance Beam at Georgia).
  • Sydney McGlone has two of the team’s three scores of 9.9 or higher, scoring a 9.9 on vault against Missouri and a 9.9 on balance beam against Georgia.
  • Sydney McGlone is tied for 20th among SEC gymnasts with a 9.825 average score on vault. Her 9.9 on vault against Missouri is tied for the 11th-highest in the SEC, and her 9.9 on balance beam against Georgia is tied for the 12th-highest in the SEC.
  • Arkansas currently has the 10th-toughest schedule in the nation, according to the RoadToNationals.com.
  • Arkansas has made 13 consecutive trips to NCAA Regionals, which includes two NCAA Regional titles and two NCAA Super Six appearances.
  • Arkansas will host an NCAA Regional in 2017 for the first time since 2014 and for the fifth time in program history.

Quotable – Coach Mark Cook on different gymnasts stepping up this season

“It’s great from an experience standpoint. We have a young team. When they have the experience to compete early in their career, it’s going to help us down the line for us next year and in the future. These guys have to step up. It happens in every sport. It’s an opportunity for them.”

Looking Ahead

Arkansas continues its stretch of six straight weeks against SEC competition, traveling to No. 16 Auburn on Feb. 3, before returning home for back-to-back home meets against No. 2 LSU on Feb. 10 and No. 3 Florida on Feb. 7.

Arkansas also visits Michigan State (Feb. 25) and No. 9 Kentucky (March 3), before returning home for a Senior Night tri-meet against San Jose State and Centenary on March 10.

Single-meet tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for youth 17 and under. Admission is also free for UA students with ID. Tickets are also available for the NCAA Regional that Arkansas will be hosting in Barnhill Arena on April 1. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for youth and UA students.

Fans can purchase tickets online or by calling the Razorback Ticket Center at 800-982-HOGS or 479-575-5151.

For more information on Arkansas gymnastics, follow @RazorbackGym on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

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