Razorbacks open with a bye

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The 10th-ranked University of Arkansas gymnastics team opens the 2009 NCAA Championship with a bye before the floor exercise, the Razorbacks learned Monday. Arkansas advanced to its second consecutive NCAA Championship and the third in program history winning the 2009 NCAA South Central Regional Championship in Barnhill Arena last weekend. Arkansas scored a 196.300 defeating fourth-ranked Stanford who also advanced out of the South Central Region. The Razorbacks’ score puts Arkansas in the second session of the first day of the championship in Lincoln, Neb., April 16. The NCAA Championship consists of two rounds of six teams on Thursday, April 16. The top three teams from each session move on to the Super Six on Friday. The individual championships are Saturday. “We’re extremely excited,” said Arkansas co-head coach René Cook. “It’s going to be a great meet and we can’t wait. It’s a great field and we’re excited to be moving on.” Arkansas is joined by No. 7 UCLA, No. 2 Utah, No. 14 Illinois, No. 8 Oregon State and No. 3 Alabama in their session. The rotation includes UCLA on vault, Utah with a bye, Illinois on bars, Oregon State on beam and Alabama on the floor. The first session features fourth-ranked Stanford who opens on vault. Cook’s alma mater No. 12 Penn State opens on bye, No. 9 Oklahoma is on bars, No. 5 LSU on beam, top-ranked and defending national champion Georgia opens with a bye and No. 6 Florida is on the floor.