Gymbacks Win Afternoon Session in Record-Breaking Fashion, Advance to Regional Final
In the team’s first home regional meet in seven years, the Gymbacks had their best showing ever as the Hogs scored a program regional high mark of 197.325 and won the first semi of the day to advance to Saturday’s regional final.
Arkansas placed second overall out of the two sessions, the best finish for the Gymbacks since the regional format changed to eight teams in 2019 and the highest in any regional since 2018. It’s the first regional final appearance for Arkansas since 2022, and third in head coach Jordyn Wieber’s tenure.
The team now has a 13-11-1 record on the season, the most wins since 2012, and the Gymbacks recorded their 10th score of 197+ on Thursday, doubling the previous single season high of five.
Along with 10-seed Arkansas, No. 7 Kentucky advanced to Saturday’s final, and No. 2 LSU and No. 15 Minnesota moved on out of the evening session.
In addition to the team score record, the Gymbacks also set a new regional record on beam with a 49.350 and matched the vault record of 49.375. Sophomore Lauren Williams claimed the highest vault score of the session, 9.950, which also matched the program regional vault record. Sophomore Cally Swaney also took the top mark on beam of the session, 9.925.
Floor
Arkansas started the day on its best event, floor, and did not disappoint. Kalyxta Gamiao and Hailey Klein got the rotation going with two solid routines that scored 9.850 and 9.800, respectively, and Maddie Jones delivered a clean and powerful set that went 9.900 midway through the lineup. The closing trio of Leah Smith, Williams, and Price only got better as the rotation wore on, and the three earned marks of 9.875, 9.900 and 9.925. The Gymbacks put together a 49.450 total on the event, which is the second-highest regional floor score ever.
Vault
The momentum continued for the Hogs on vault, and Cami Weaver set the tone wonderfully with a stuck Yurchenko full that went 9.900 in the lead-off spot. Smith and Price earned matching 9.850s in the second and third spots, which brought up the final three vaults for Arkansas, all Yurchenko 1.5s. Freshman Dakota Essenpries put just a tad too much juice on her turn for a 9.800, but Klein covered with a 9.825 up next to get back on track. Williams then closed the rotation with a bang and scored 9.950 on a stuck-cold 1.5. Arkansas finished the event with a 49.375, which matches the best-ever team vault score at a regional, previously set in 2015.
Bars
Swaney got a 9.850 to start bars off strong for the Hogs, complete with a stuck double layout dismount. Fellow sophomores Jaime Pratt and Reese Drotar were up next and score 9.800 and 9.775, respectively. Following a fall in the fourth spot, senior Jensen Scalzo righted the ship with an excellent routine and stuck dismount that went 9.875 for Arkansas. Jones got the Gymbacks’ best score of the rotation as anchor with a 9.900, and Arkansas finished bars with a 49.150.
Beam
The trademark consistency of Gamiao led beam off well and she scored a 9.800 for the Gymbacks up first. Jones then got her third 9.900 of the day, and Swaney kept the fire going with a spectacular routine that scored 9.925 up third. Weaver added a 9.850 in the fourth spot, and Klein kept the pace up with a 9.875 in fifth. Sirena Linton earned a 9.800 in the anchor spot to put a bow on the 49.350 rotation, a new program regional record on beam.
Up Next
No. 10 Arkansas will compete in Saturday’s regional final with No. 2 LSU, No. 7 Kentucky and No. 15 Minnesota at 5 p.m. from Bud Walton Arena. Tickets are on sale now via Razorback Ticket Center, and doors open at 3:30 p.m. for fans. Those watching from home can stream the action live on ESPN+, and live stats will be provided by Virtius.
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).
