Gymbacks Open Season Saturday in OKC

January 10, 2025

The Arkansas gymnastics team kicks off action for the 2025 season on Saturday at the Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad in Oklahoma City.

The two day event, hosted by ESPN Events, consists of three quad meets over Friday and Saturday. Nine of the 12 participating teams finished in the top 20 last season, and five competed at NCAA Championships. Arkansas is among four SEC teams participating, along with Kentucky, Oklahoma, and reigning national champion LSU.

Arkansas’ Saturday 7 p.m. session features Kentucky, Ohio State, and UCLA. Arkansas is very familiar with its opponents at the event and has competed against each at least once since 2018. The Gymbacks are the top seed of the session and will start on vault.

After meeting four times last season, Saturday’s match-up is the first of at least two between Arkansas and SEC foe Kentucky in 2025. Last time out, the Gymbacks took down the Wildcats at the Fayetteville Regional Final to punch their ticket to the 2024 NCAA Gymnastics Championships. Arkansas’ is 15-8 over Kentucky at neutral sites dating back to 2003.

The Gymbacks are 4-1 against the Buckeyes since 2009, their only loss coming in the 2023 Norman Regional. The Buckeyes finished the 2024 slate ranked No. 15 in the country and were voted No. 16 in the 2025 WCGA preseason coaches poll. Ohio State has been picked to finish fourth in the Big 10 behind Michigan State, UCLA and Michigan.

Of Arkansas’ three opponents at the SFM Collegiate Quad, it’s been the longest since the Hogs have seen the Bruins, their last meeting at the 2018 NCAA Championships, which UCLA would go on to win. Head coach Jordyn Wieber was a team manager and volunteer assistant coach for the Bruins through 2019. Saturday marks her first time coaching against her alma mater, and Arkansas is 3-14 all-time against UCLA, its last win in 2009. Assistant coach Kyla Ross was a five-time national champion and 24-time All-American at UCLA. Ross made her collegiate debut against Arkansas in 2017 and will now coach a season opener between the two teams eight years later.

All sessions of the SFM Collegiate Quad will air live on ESPN’s family of networks. Arkansas’ session will be featured on ESPN2 with John Roethlisberger and Aly Raisman on the call, and Taylor Davis sideline reporting. Live stats will be provided by Virtius.

Numbers to Know:

Arkansas (Final 2024 NQS ranking)

Vault: 49.355, 11th
Bars: 49.355, 15th
Beam: 49.380, 16th
Floor: 49.565, T-9th
All-Around: 197.445, 7th

Kentucky

Vault: 49.450, 5th
Bars: 49.445, 9th
Beam: 49.445, 7th
Floor: 49.615, T-6th
All-Around: 197.810, 9th

Ohio State

Vault: 49.320, 13th
Bars: 49.245, T-29th
Beam: 49.240, T-23rd
Floor: 49.505, 15th
All-Around: 197.110, 13th

UCLA

Vault: 49.400, 8th
Bars: 49.450, 8th
Beam: 49.430, T-9th
Floor: 49.615, T-6th
All-Around: 197.675, 17th

More Information

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