Hogs Head to Tuscaloosa for Top 5 Match-Up with Tide
The Arkansas gymnastics team has its first road test on Friday as the Gymbacks are set for a dual meet against the Alabama Crimson Tide on Friday night in Tuscaloosa.
It’ll be a top five SEC battle as Alabama and Arkansas check in at No. 3 and No. 4 this week, respectively. It’s the first time the Gymbacks have been ranked in the top five since 2021, and Friday’s top five match-up will be the first since 2012 for Arkansas.
Alabama has earned its ranking after posting scores over 197 in each of the Tide’s two meets so far. Arkansas hit a mark of 197.150 in its first competition, a new program high score for a season opener, which places the team at No. 4 in the country this week.
The squads are led by powerhouse coaching staffs that have five Olympians or senior national team members combined: head coaches Jordyn Wieber and Ashley Johnston, and assistant coaches Chris Brooks, Kyla Ross, and Justin Spring. Between the five, they have three Olympic medals (two gold, one bronze) and 13 world championship medals.
Friday’s meet will see Arkansas featured on SEC Network’s Friday Night Heights for the first time this season and will be broadcast live on the station at 6:30 p.m. CT.
Scouting the Series: Alabama
- Friday’s competition will be the 55th meeting between the Razorbacks and Crimson Tide, and Arkansas has just five victories in the series, the last in 2017
- Arkansas has not defeated Alabama in Tuscaloosa since 2016, which is also the lone road victory for the Gymbacks in the series
- The Tide check in just ahead of the Razorbacks in the team standings at No. 3. While Arkansas is the No. 1 floor team in the country currently, Alabama also has a top spot, on bars with an average score of 49.538
Numbers to Know:
Alabama (Avg score and ranking | Top ind. avg)
- Vault: 49.200 (12th) | Luisa Blanco, 9.887
- Bars: 49.538 (T-1st) | Luisa Blanco, 9.950
- Beam: 49.088 (16th) | Luisa Blanco, 9.900
- Floor: 49.350 (T-12th) | Gabby Gladieux, 9.938
- All-Around: 197.175 (3rd) | Luisa Blanco, 39.612
Arkansas (Avg score and ranking | Top ind. avg)
- Vault: 49.225 (T-10th) | Cami Weaver/Lauren Williams, 9.900
- Bars: 49.325 (8th) | Jaime Pratt/Jensen Scalzo, 9.900
- Beam: 49.025 (T-21st) | Maddie Jones, 9.900
- Floor: 49.575 (1st) | Frankie Price/Lauren Williams, 9.950
- All-Around: 197.150 (4th) | N/A
More Information
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