Metroplex Challenge Up Next for Gymbacks

The No. 14 Gymbacks will see some new competition this weekend as the team is set to face off with No. 10 Oregon State, No. 19 Arizona and SEMO in Friday’s Metroplex Challenge in Fort Worth.

Arkansas is no stranger to the meet as the Gymbacks are making their fifth appearance in 10 seasons and third straight this week. Arkansas averages a score of 196.500 at the Metroplex Challenge and has never finished higher than third.

The Gymbacks are a combined 23-6 all-time against Oregon State, Arizona and SEMO, with four of those six losses coming to the Beavers. Arkansas hasn’t lost to any of the three teams since 2009. While Oregon State is the team’s only top 10 opponent in the competition, there are closely-matched events among the squads. There’s less than a half-tenth difference in NQS (national qualifying score) on bars between Arkansas, Oregon State and Arizona, with the Beavers leading the pack at 49.135. The Gymbacks hold the top NQS of the field on vault (49.145) and floor (49.340) and Oregon State rounds things out on beam with an NQS of 49.310.

This week is the first of the season that overall team and event NQS comes into play. NQS is determined “by taking a team’s top six scores from the season, of which at least three must have been scored on the road, removing the high score, and averaging the remaining five.”

The Gymbacks are coming off a much-needed solid outing at No. 11 Georgia over the weekend. Despite taking a loss in the conference standings, Arkansas did record a season road high score of 197.050.

Friday’s contest in Fort Worth is set for 7:15 p.m. A live stream and live scores are available via Meet Scores Online for a fee.

Numbers to Know

Oregon State (NQS and ranking | Top ind. NQS)

• VT: 49.060, 15th | Jade Carey, 9.885
• UB: 49.135, 13th | Jade Carey, 9.910
• BB: 49.310, T-5th | Jade Carey, 9.960
• FX: 49,305, 9th | Jade Carey, 9.925
• AA: 196.840, 10th | Jade Carey, 39.675

Arizona (NQS and ranking | Top ind. NQS)

• VT: 48,865, 26th | Alysen Fears, 9.785
• UB: 49.105, 19th | Alysen Fears, 9.880
• BB: 48.995, 19th | Abigayle Martin, 9.850
• FX: 49.115, 23rd | Emma Strom, 9.860
• AA: 196.120, 19th | Abigayle Martin, 39.195

SEMO (NQS and ranking | Top ind. NQS)

• VT: 48.505, T-52nd | Taylor Ingle, 9.805
• UB: 48.110, 52nd | Taylor Ingle, 9.685
• BB: 48.075, 58th | Jaidan Kossuth, 9.740
• FX: 48.505, 56th | Taylor Ingle, 9.810
• AA: 192.960, 55th | Taylor Ingle, 38.680

Arkansas (NQS and ranking | Top ind. NQS)

• VT: 49.145, 11th | Joscelyn Roberson, 9.845
• UB: 49.110, 18th | Mati Waligora, 9.840
• BB: 49.065, 16th | Joscelyn Roberson, 9.890
• FX: 49.340, 6th | Frankie Price, 9.905
• AA: 196.630, 14th | Joscelyn Roberson, 39.375

More Information

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