Arkansas Sets New Team, Beam Records in Victory Over Missouri
The No. 12 Gymbacks made their Sunday a fun one as they defeated the No. 13 Missouri Tigers in record-breaking fashion with a new program high score of 197.650.
It was the second time this season Arkansas has set a new team record score, and the second time it’s happened on the road. Sunday’s mark of 197.650 was over a tenth higher than the previous high set at Alabama in January and was the sixth 197+ score on the season for Arkansas, a new program record.
The meet was the last regular season SEC contest for the Gymbacks, and they conclude their conference slate at 4-2-1, the most victories since 2016 and most under head coach Jordyn Wieber.
In addition to the team total, Arkansas also set a new program high on beam of 49.575. The Hogs outscored the Tigers on vault and beam on the night and went 49.500+ on beam and floor (49.525).
Frankie Price and Lauren Williams came in a four-way tie for first on vault with 9.875 scores, Maddie Jones claimed the bars crown with a season-high 9.925, and Williams also got a victory on floor with her 9.950.
Bars
The first half of the Arkansas bars lineup got better as it went on with scores of 9.750, 9.800 and 9.850 from Cally Swaney, Jaime Pratt and Reese Drotar, respectively. Grad transfer Sirena Linton came in clutch in the fourth spot and scored a career-high 9.900, capped off with a stuck double layout. Senior Jensen Scalzo provided her usual consistency up fourth and got a 9.825, which brought Maddie Jones to anchor. She delivered a huge performance with a stuck dismount that went 9.925, punctuating a 49.300 rotation for the Hogs.
Vault
The second rotation started just like the first with improving scores midway through the lineup: Cami Weaver with a 9.800, Leah Smith with a 9.850 and Price with a 9.875. The second half of Arkansas’ vault lineup, all Yurchenko 1.5s, were a 9.800 for Dakota Essenpries, 9.850 for Hailey Klein and 9.875 for Williams. The vault squad posted a final mark of 49.250.
Floor
The Gymbacks showed that they’ll throw a floor party anywhere they go with a huge third rotation of 49.525. Gamiao got things going with a 9.800, followed by Klein with a 9.875. Jones then delivered an excellent routine up third for her second 9.925 of the night. Smith got a 9.850 in the fourth spot, which brought up the big 1-2 punch of Williams and Price at fifth and sixth. Williams had a rock solid showing with the smallest of errors for a 9.950, and Price closed out the rotation with a crowd-pleaser that went 9.925.
Beam
With a slight lead over the home team heading into the final rotation, Arkansas needed a big performance from the beam team, and they did just that. Gamiao got a 9.900 in the lead-off spot, and Jones earned her third 9.925 in as many routines up second, a new career high. Williams got a 9.800 midway through the lineup before the final three competitors of the evening. The entire trio went 9.9+, Weaver and Klein with marks of 9.925 and Linton with a 9.900 to close the meet. The Gymbacks finished with a 49.575, a new program record.
Up Next
A huge test awaits the Gymbacks next as the No. 1 team in the country and back-to-back national champion Oklahoma comes to town for a dual meet on Sunday, March 10 at Bud Walton Arena. The contest is set for 4 p.m. CT and will be broadcast live on SEC Network+.
More Information
Visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com for the latest information on all things Arkansas Gymnastics. You can also find the Razorbacks on social media by liking us on Facebook (Arkansas Razorback Gymnastics) and following us on Twitter and Instagram (@RazorbackGym).
