Gymbacks Return to Bud Walton for Battle with Gators

Arkansas gymnastics makes its return to The Place on Friday night as the No. 18 Hogs are set to take on the No. 2 Florida Gators from Bud Walton Arena.

Both teams are coming off big conference wins last week, Florida over Georgia and Arkansas over LSU. The Razorbacks and Gators each set season highs in the meet, a 197.475 for Arkansas and 197.900 for Florida. The score is also a new program record for the Gymbacks.

It’s the second meet ever for Arkansas in Bud Walton Arena, and the first of two this season. Last year, the Razorbacks set a new program attendance record at The Palace of 10,345 fans.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m., team intros are set for 6:45 p.m. and first vault will be at 7:00. The meet will stream live on SEC Network Plus.

Public parking is available in lot 56 at the corner of MLK and Razorback Rd. and in lots 46 and 56B. ADA parking is available within designated spots in all lots surrounding Bud Walton Arena.

Last Time Out

The Gymbacks made the most of their home gym advantage on Jan. 27 as the team made history with a new program high team score, a new Barnhill attendance record, and the team’s first sellout. Arkansas defeated LSU 197.475-197.250, the first time since 2012. The Hogs outscored the Tigers on three events en route to the final. It’s the second time in head coach Jordyn Wieber’s tenure that the Gymbacks have recorded a new program high team score. Norah Flatley and Leah Smith took event titles for Arkansas, on bars (9.925) and floor (9.950), respectively, both Arkansas records for the two. Freshman phenom Lauren Williams again shined, with new career highs of 9.925 on both floor and vault, which placed her in second and third. Freshman Reese Drotar and sophomore Maddie Jones split second on bars (9.875), freshman Cally Swaney and Flatley shared second on beam (9.900) and Jones, Bailey Lovett and Frankie Price all earned a 9.900 for a four-way tie for third on floor to round out Arkansas’ podium finishes. The performance came in front of 7,147 fans, the most in Barnhill since Wieber’s debut home meet on Jan. 17, 2020.

Scouting the Series: Florida

• Arkansas’ series with Florida is its longest-running of any opponent, and Friday’s meeting will be the 53rd between the Gators and Razorbacks
• Florida is ranked in the top five on all but one event, and checks in as the No. 1 bars team in the country. The Gators have the nation’s top all-arounder in Trinity Thomas and another in the top five with Leanne Wong in the fifth spot
• Last season against Florida, Arkansas set a new program record on beam of 49.475

Numbers to Know

Florida (Avg score and ranking | Top ind. avg)

• Vault: 49.294 (6th) | Trinity Thomas, 9.938
• Bars: 49.538 (1st) | Leanne Wong/Trinity Thomas, 9.956
• Beam: 49.431 (3rd) | Leanne Wong, 9.913
• Floor: 49.438 (4th) | Trinity Thomas, 9.958
• All-Around: 197.700 (2nd) | Trinity Thomas, 39.688

Arkansas

• VT: 49.131 (13th) | Norah Flatley, 9.863
• UB: 48.844 (33rd) | Norah Flatley, 9.906
• BB: 49.106 (16th) | Norah Flatley, 9.875
• FX: 49.344 (7th) | Lauren Williams/Leah Smith, 9.900
• AA: 196.475 (18th) | Norah Flatley, 39.563

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).