Gymnastics Adds Carter To 2017 Class

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas gymnastics head coach Mark Cook announced his second signee of the 2017 class on Friday, as Sophia Carter has signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI) to join the Razorbacks next season.

Carter comes to Arkansas from the Great American Gymnastic Express Center in Blue Springs, Missouri, where she has competed at Level 10 since 2012. This past spring, Carter was the Missouri state champion in vault, beam, floor and all-around and also finished second on bars. She concluded her season at the Level 10 Junior Olympic National, finishing fifth in the all-around (37.800).

Further, Carter competed at the Level 10 Junior Olympic Nationals in 2013, 2014 and 2015, finishing tied for first in floor exercise (9.700) and tied for third on beam in 2014.

Carter is a three-time Missouri state champion in the all-around (2014-16) and beam (2014-16), two-time Missouri state champion on vault (2015-16) and one-time Missouri state champion in floor exercise (2016) and one-time champion on bars (2015).

She was also the 2015 Region 4 champion in the all-around, bars, beam and floor exercise and won first place on beam at the 2014 Region 4 Championships.

Carter is the daughter of David and Vicki Carter Hottenrott and attends Blue Springs South High School in Blue Springs, Missouri. She plans to major in pre-med. A Blue Springs, Missouri, native, Carter will become the first Arkansas gymnast in program history from the nearby Show Me State.

“Sophia Carter is a very solid All Around gymnast that has a strong balance among all four events.  Balance Beam and Floor may be her strongest events, but she is capable of making the lineup in all four. She will impress our crowds with her technique and consistency. We’re so happy to have Sophia as part our team.” — Head coach Mark Cook

“I chose Arkansas because I fell in love with the campus and had an immediate connection with the team.” — Sophia Carter

Personal bests:

Vault: 9.675

Bars: 9.700

Beam: 9.675

Floor: 9.700

AA: 37.950

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