Gymbacks Take Second at Metroplex Challenge with New Team Season and Vault Program Highs
Propelled by three individual program records and a new program vault record, No. 10 Arkansas gymnastics scored a season high 197.700 on Sunday afternoon and took second in this season’s Metroplex Challenge.
The No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners took the team title with a score of 198.175, No. 31 Arizona came in third with 195.825 and No. 55 TWU placed fourth with a score of 195.025.
Hailey Klein and Lauren Williams both scored 9.975 to share second place on vault, the second time that each of them have matched the program individual score record of 9.975 on the event. The Gymbacks ultimately came away with a 49.675 on vault, a new program record and the team’s highest team vault score since 2024.
Morgan Price earned a 9.975 on bars for the event title, a new season high. The mark is Arkansas’ program best, and it was the first time since 2024 that any Gymback has earned a 9.975 on bars. Price joins Reese Drotar and Hailey Garner as one of three Arkansas gymnasts ever to reach the score.
Joscelyn Roberson scored her fifth 9.950 on beam in six meets, which earned her the event title on her birthday.
Arkansas registered seven more 9.900+ scores on the day: Roberson on bars (9.900) and floor (9.900), Leah Smith on vault (9.900) and floor (9.900), Morgan Price on vault (9.925) and beam (9.900) and Allison Cucci on vault (9.900).
The Gymbacks are now 5-3 on the season with an average team score of 197.092.
Bars
Roberson started the day with a solid routine, complete with a stuck dismount, and went 9.900. Klein scored 9.800 in the two spot, and Smith matched it midway through the lineup. Freshman Avalon Campbell delivered a fantastic set in the fourth position with a stick and earned a 9.850, a new career high. Allison Cucci got the same score in the fifth spot, which brought up Morgan Price to anchor. She delivered a near-perfect routine sealed with a stick that scored 9.975, which matches the Arkansas program record. Arkansas concluded the rotation with a 49.375 on bars.
Beam
After a fall from the lead-off, Priscilla Park made her season debut on beam and recovered well for the Gymbacks with a 9.825 routine, complete with stuck landing. Klein went third and earned a 9.775 to pace Arkansas halfway through the rotation. Cucci went 9.800 next in the fourth position. Morgan Price kept up her momentum from the first rotation and delivered a solid 9.900 routine with a stuck dismount. Roberson showed all her typical poise and precision in the anchor spot for Arkansas and scored her fifth 9.950 on beam in six meets, which brought the Gymbacks’ total to 49.250 on the event.
Floor
Hailey Klein started the floor rotation with a 9.875. Following a 9.450 from Cucci, Smith righted the ship with a 9.900, her season high. Williams followed with the same score in the fourth position for the Gymbacks. Frankie Price got a 9.825 up fifth, and Roberson closed the rotation with a 9.900. Arkansas scored a 49.400 overall on floor.
Vault
Ja’Leigh Lang began the vault rotation with a 9.825 for her Yurchenko full, and Smith scored a 9.900 for the same vault up second. Allison Cucci kicked off Arkansas’ 1.5s with a big 9.900. Klein and Williams went back-to-back 9.975s, becoming the only two gymnasts in Arkansas history to score 9.975 more than once on vault. Morgan Price earned a 9.925 in the anchor spot, which brought Arkansas’ vault total to 49.675, easily clearing the previous program record of 49.550.
Up Next
Arkansas continues its SEC schedule next Friday, Feb.13 at No. 4 Alabama. The meet is set for 6:30 p.m. in Tuscaloosa and will be broadcast on SEC Network+.
More Information
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