Four @RazorbackGym Gymnasts Win Four Event Titles at No. 24 Kentucky
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 14-ranked University of Arkansas women’s gymnastics team had four gymnasts win four event titles on Friday night, but it would not be enough to lift them over No. 24 Kentucky, as they fall, 195.750-194.825, at Memorial Coliseum.
The quartet of junior Heather Elswick, sophomores Samantha Nelson and Amanda Wellick, along with freshman Paige Zaziski each took home an event championship against the Wildcats on Friday. Elswick and Nelson tied for the floor exercise title, Wellick won the vault title outright, along with an all-around title and Zaziski captured the uneven bars victory.
Wellick and Zaziski won the first pair of event titles for Arkansas through the first two rotations, as Wellick’s 9.925 captured the vault and Zaziski’s 9.850 was the highest total on the uneven bars on Friday. It was the fourth vault title this year for Wellick, while it was the second time in three meets that Zaziski has won the bars.
Elswick and Nelson lifted the Razorbacks to an overall score of 49.000 on the floor exercise, as both gymnasts posted a 9.850 to claim a share of the event title. It was the first-ever floor exercise title for both gymnast in their collegiate career.
Wellick ended the night with her fourth all-around title of the season, as her 39.375 lifted her over teammate Paige Zaziski, who collected her fourth-straight 39-plus all-around score with her 39.125. Tonight’s two titles now gives Wellick 11 event titles for the 2015 season.
Arkansas once again had a strong showing on the vault and floor exercise, as they posted a 49.150 and a 49.000, respectively, in two events. It was the seventh-straight meet this season that the Razorbacks have scored a 49-plus on the vault, and it was the sixth-consecutive meet that they have scored a 49 or high in the floor exercise.
Razorback of the Meet – Sophomore Amanda Wellick
• Won the event title on the vault and all-around.
• Set a season-best score of 9.850 on the balance beam.
• Scored a team-best 9.925 on the vault.
• Collected a 9.8 or better on all four events.
• Totaled an all-around score of 39.375.
9.80-Plus Routines
Bars: Canizaro (9.800), Wellick (9.800), Zaziski (9.850)
Vault: MacMoyle (9.825), Zaziski (9.850), Wellick (9.925)
Bars: Canizaro (9.800), Wellick (9.800), Zaziski (9.850)
Floor: Dillard (9.800), Nelson (9.850), Elswick (9.850), Wellick (9.800)
Beam: Wellick (9.850), Dillard (9.875)
All-Around Scores
Amanda Wellick: 39.375
Paige Zaziski: 39.125
Team Scores
No. 24 Kentucky: 195.750
No. 14 Arkansas: 194.825
Event Winners
Vault: Amanda Wellick, Arkansas, 9.925
Bars: Paige Zaziski, Arkansas, 9.850
Beam: Shannon Mitchell, Kentucky, 9.900
Floor: Heather Elswick/Samantha Nelson, Arkansas, Taylor Puryear, Kentucky, 9.850
All-Around: Amanda Wellick, Arkansas, 39.375
Post-Meet Sound: Head Coach Mark Cook
“We warmed up very, very well, but when the flag goes up and you change your gymnastics, then you have errors and you fall. We did not peform well tonight, so we have to go back to workouts and try to get mentally tougher to perform when its being judged.”
On Having Four Gymnasts Win Four Event Titles
“We had some good individual performances from them tonight, and I’m very pleased that they were able to put together some nice routines tonight.”
#RazorFacts
• For the second-straight week, Arkansas had a gymnast win four of the five event titles (V, UB, FX, AA)
• The Razorbacks posted their seventh-straight 49-plus score on the vault this season.
• Arkansas collected its sixth-straight 49-plus on the floor exercise with its 49.000.
• Sophomore Amanda Wellick captured her fourth vault title of the year with a 9.925.
• Wellick has scored three-straight 9.9-plus’ on the vault.
• Wellick also set a season-best on the beam with a 9.850.
• Freshman Paige Zaziski won her second uneven bars title this season with a 9.850.
• Junior Heather Elswick and sophomore Samantha Nelson each won their first career floor title with a 9.850.
• Junior Sydnie Dillard tied her season-best on the beam with a 9.875.
Up Next
The No. 14-ranked Razorbacks will remain in SEC play next week, as they return home next Friday, Feb. 27, to take on the Missouri Tigers. The meet will be webcast live on the SEC Network+ and will re-air on the SEC Network on March 2. Events from Barnhill Arena are scheduled to begin at 6:45 p.m.
For more information on Arkansas gymnastics, follow @RazorbackGym on Twitter.
