Magee leads Arkansas in a close one in Oregon

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CORVALLAS, Ore. – The fifth-ranked University of Arkansas gymnastics team set seven season bests and six career bests finishing second in tri-meet action at No. 9 Oregon State Friday. The Razorbacks (2-1, 0-0 SEC) scored a season-high 195.925 finishing second to the Beavers who won the meet with a 195.950. California was third with 185.250. “What a great meet,” said Arkansas co-head coach René Cook. “The hardest thing to do in a meet is to start on beam and I thought we were great.” “It’s so hard coming into a place like this with a big crowd and start on beam,” added co-head coach Mark Cook. “We learned a lot about this team and I couldn’t be more pleased with the effort tonight.” “I thought we were great on every event,” René Cook continued. “It was our first away meet and it was great.” The meet saw the return of juniors Casey Jo Magee and Sarah Nagashima, sophomore Stacy Bartlett and freshman Alyssa Strodel to their hometown areas in the Pacific Northwest. Magee rose to the challenge winning her second consecutive all-around title with a season-best 39.425. She was third on vault (9.85), tied for second in bars (9.875), tied for third on beam (9.80) and tied for second on floor (9.90). The meet came down to the final performer on the final event to decide the team outcome. Arkansas began the meet on the beam and, therefore, ended on bars while the host finished on the floor. The Razorbacks were finished with all six routines scoring a season-best 49.225 on bars and could only watch as the Beavers finished their final two routines. All-arounder Jami Lanz, who finished second to Magee, turned in a 9.90 and Arkansas had a chance with the final gymnast for Oregon State needing a nearly perfect score – and she got it. Mandi Rodriguez, who finished third in the all-around, scored a 9.975 in the final routine as OSU edged Arkansas. “You can’t ask for a closer meet,” said René Cook. “It came down to the final routine. We were pleased with what we did tonight and we know we gave our all.” Junior Michelle Stout tied for the individual win on the vault with a season-best 9.90, Arkansas’ highest mark of the year. Nagashima started off the night with the Razorbacks’ first routine on the beam. Nagashima opened tying her career-best with a 9.80. A 9.65 from Stout was followed by a fall on the event but sophomore Stacy Bartlett stepped up in the fourth performer with a 9.775 in a solid effort. Magee anchored the event with a 9.80 helping Arkansas to a 48.725 and second place behind the Beavers after the first rotation. The Razorbacks moved to floor exercise where Magee and freshman Jaime Pisani both scored season-bests leading Arkansas to a 49.025. Magee’s 9.90 led all Arkansas scores while Pisani added a 9.825. Stout tallied a 9.80 and senior Alex LaChance and sophomore Molly Lewis scored 9.75s for Arkansas. Oregon State scored 48.95 on bars in the second rotation and a lead, 98.00-97.750, after two events. Arkansas rallied the troops on the vault – the team’s lowest scoring event a week ago – scoring a 48.95 with five season-best scores. Vault All-America Stout led the way with a season-high 9.90 followed by season-bests from Magee with a 9.85, Pisani with a 9.825 and LaChance with a 9.70. The Razorbacks out-scored Oregon State who counted a 48.250 in the third rotation but Arkansas trailed the Beavers, 146.75-146.70 heading into the final rotation. Arkansas got two season-bests, two career-bests and tied a career mark in the final event. Junior Amy DeFilippo opened with a season-best 9.80, followed by a solid 9.275 from freshman Mariah Howdeshell. Magee posted a season-best 9.875 as did Pisani with a 9.85. Nagashima tied her career mark with a 9.85 and Stout finished with a season-high 9.85 as Arkansas made a run at the team title. Arkansas returns home to start Southeastern Conference action hosting No. 3 Florida Friday. For more information and tickets, please log on to ArkansasRazorbacks.com.No. 9 Oregon State 195.95No. 5 Arkansas 195.925No. 45 California 185.250Friday, Jan. 16, 2009Corvallis, Ore. – Gill ColiseumROTATION 1OSU — Vault: 49.05Stephanie McGregor 9.70, Brooke Barclay 9.80, Whitney Watson 9.775, Jami Lanz 9.85, Mandi Rodriguez 9.90. Becky Colvin 9.725.California — Bars: 46.200Avery Gee 8.90, Stefanie Cheng 9.375, Erica Varon 8.60, Sophia Hocini 9.65, Joanna Bennett 9.675.Arkansas — Beam: 48.725Sarah Nagashima 9.80, Michelle Stout 9.65, Amy DeFilippo 9.15, Stacy Bartlett 9.775, Jaime Pisani 9.70, Casey Jo Magee 9.80.ROTATION 2OSU — Bars: 48.950Whitney Watson 9.775, Laura-Ann Chong 9.775, Jami Lanz 9.65, Mandi Rodriguez 9.55, Leslie Mak 9.85, Jen Kesler 9.90.California — Beam: 46.775Sophia Hocini 9.70, Avery Gee 9.575, Joanna Bennett 8.925, Stefanie Cheng 9.60, Erica Varon 8.975.Arkansas — Floor: 49.025Alex LaChance 9.75, Molly Lewis 9.75, Jaime Pisani 9.825, Michelle Stout 9.80, Sarah Nagashima 9.725, Casey Jo Magee 9.90. EXH-Stacy Bartlett 9.70.ROTATION 3Oregon State — Beam: 48.750Whitney Watson 9.675, Mandi Rodriguez 9.80, Laura-Ann Chong 9.825, Leslie Mak 9.375, Brooke Barclay 9.575, Jami Lanz 9.875.California — Floor: 45.150Erica Varon 8.60, Stefanie Cheng 9.175, Joanna Bennett 8.750, Sophia Hocini 9.175, Avery Gee 9.45.Arkansas – Vault: 48.95Alex LaChance 9.70, Mariah Howdeshell 9.50, Sarah Nagashima 9.675, Casey Jo Magee 9.85, Jaime Pisani 9.825, Michelle Stout 9.90.ROTATION 4Oregon State – Floor: 49.20.Stephanie McGregor 9.65, Jereme Bigelow 9.775, Kera Bolen 9.775, Leslie Mak 9.775, Jami Lanz 9.90, Mandi Rodriguez 9.975California – Vault: 47.075Alex Leggitt 9.150, Erica Varon 8.85, Joanna Bennett 9.20, Stefanie Cheng 9.475, Avery Gee 9.625, Sophia Hocini 9.625.Arkansas – Bars: 49.225Amy DeFilippo 9.80, Mariah Howdeshell 9.725, Casey Jo Magee 9.875, Jaime Pisani 9.85, Sarah Nagashima 9.85, Michelle Stout 9.85.