The No. 15 Arkansas gymnastics team has already made history in its first meet of the season.
The Gymbacks toppled No. 16 Georgia 197.150–196.350 inside legendary Barnhill Arena on Friday night and tallied the program’s highest score ever in an Week 1 opening meet.
Arkansas has now won five straight meets against Georgia, a program that has produced 10 national championships in the past 36 years.
The Gymbacks captured at least a share of the top individual scores on three of the four events – vault, been and floor.
On vault, sophomores Cami Weaver and Lauren Williams shared honor, each posting 9.900 to give the Hogs an early advantage, finishing the first rotation with a score of 49.225.
Junior Maddie Jones made her debut on the balance beam by posting a score of 9.900, tying Georgia’s JaFree Scott for top honors. Fellow junior Kalyxta Gamiao also finished with a 9.875 to help Arkansas post an event score of 40.025.
The Gymbacks were near flawless on the floor routine, as all six in the Arkansas rotation scored at least a 9.850. Sophomores Williams and Frankie Price grabbed top honors, each with show-stopping 9.950 performances. The team score of 49.575 on floor was the second-best event total in program history.
Sophomore Jaime Pratt and senior Jensen Scalzo led Arkansas on the bars, each posting 9.900, second only to Scott’s 9.950. Freshman Priscilla Park shined in three events for the Gymbacks, sticking her double-layout dismount for a bars score of 9.825. Jones, who equally performed strong in three events, also got a stick and a 9.875, giving the Hogs a final bars score of 49.325.
Arkansas heads to Tuscaloosa next Friday night to face No. 4 Alabama, who defeated No. 3 Missouri, 197.225–196.475, in their SEC opener. The meet will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will be aired live on the SEC Network.