Gymbacks Take Down No. 2 LSU on Friday for First Conference Win
In front of nearly 10,000 fans, the No. 17 Gymbacks brought down the house at Bud Walton Arena on Friday as they defeated the reigning national champion and No. 2 LSU Tigers.
The upset was the biggest of the Wieber era and the highest-ranked since Arkansas took down No. 1 Florida in 2011. The Gymbacks set a new season high on bars with a score of 49.250 and hit a mark of 49.525 for the second consecutive meet.
Freshman Joscelyn Roberson won the all-around with a score of 39.350, the third all-around crown of her young career. Redshirt junior Frankie Price won floor for the second meet in a row with a 9.950 and received a 10 from one judge.
Arkansas had 9,874 fans in attendance, third-highest in program history, and set a new student attendance record of 1,705.
Vault
Redshirt junior Cami Weaver started the meet on a high note as she stuck her Yurchenko full and earned a 9.875. Leah Smith and Ja’Leigh Lang followed with scores of 9.800 and 9.825, respectively, to take the Gymbacks midway through the lineup on vault. Dakota Essenpries and Joscelyn Roberson both showed 10.0 start value vaults and earned matching 9.875s in the fourth and fifth spots. Sophomore Hailey Klein entered the vault lineup for the first time this season at anchor and got a 9.800 to bring Arkansas’ event total to 49.250.
Bars
The Gymbacks kicked off bars with a career high 9.850 from Roberson, complete with a stuck double layout dismount. Following a 9.675 from Swaney on bars, graduate transfer Kaity Ewald put down a 9.825 to keep the pace up midway through the lineup. Priscilla Park got a season high 9.875 in the fourth spot, and Maddie Jones maintained the momentum with a 9.825 next. Graduate transfer Mati Waligora delivered her best routine as a Gymback as the final competitor and scored a 9.875, cementing Arkansas’ season high of 49.250.
Beam
Arkansas had a bit of a lull on beam, but Kalyxta Gamiao led the rotation off strongly with a 9.800. Following marks of 9.625 and 9.725, Weaver helped to right the ship with a season-high 9.825. Swaney went next and notched a 9.800, which brought Roberson up to close. She earned a 9.700 and Arkansas finished beam with a 48.850.
Floor
Trailing LSU but just over two-tenths, Arkansas went to its best event and finished strong for the win. Gamiao, Klein and Jones set the pace nicely with marks of 9.850, 9.825 and 9.875, respectively. Smith went fourth and earned a 9.925, a new season high. Roberson followed with a 9.925, matching her score from earlier this week, and Price was set to anchor. She recorded a 9.950 with a 10 from one judge, securing the victory for Arkansas and sealing an event score of 49.525.
Up Next
Arkansas continues SEC competition at No. 1 Oklahoma on Friday, Jan. 31. The meet is set for 8 p.m. CT in Normand and will be broadcast live on ESPN2.
More Information
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