The No. 16 Arkansas gymnastics team shined bright Monday, turning it’s second-best team score of the season, to finish second in the Texas Women’s University Quad Meet in Denton.
The GymBacks (5-5-1, 2-2-1 SEC) put up a score of 197.375, slightly behind No. 10 Alabama’s 197.625. No. 19 Arizona ended up third with a 196.950, followed by TWU’s 195.725. It was the third time this season that Arkansas has posted scores over 197.
It is also the Razorbacks’ fifth-best team score ever, as the program’s top five all-time scores have now come in the last four seasons under Head Coach Jordyn Wieber.
The Razorbacks and Crimson Tide had already faced off in a dual meet in Tuscaloosa on Jan. 19, ending in a tie with identical scores of 197.525.
Arkansas was again outstanding on the floor exercise Monday, winning the event with a 49.575 team score, matching it’s highest finish of the season and the second-best all-time. The Razorbacks did not score lower than 49.200 in any of the four rotations.
The Hogs began the meet on the uneven bars, scoring a 49.300. Sophomore Reese Drotar posting a team-high 9.900, followed by fellow sophomore Jamie Pratt‘s 9.875.
After a tough day on the beam in Saturday’s Metroplex Challenge quad meet, Arkansas bounced back on Monday with a team score of 49.200. Freshman Hailey Klein performed a stellar routine, sticking the dismount, to win her first event title with a score of 9.925. Junior Kalyxta Gamiao tied for second, scoring her second-straight 9.900.
The dynamic sophomore duo of Lauren Williams and Frankie Price stole the show with two more stellar floor routines. They both finished in a three-way tie for the event title, with scores of 9.950. Junior Maddie Jones finished fourth with a 9.925.
The Gymbacks won the team title on vault, with a score of 49.300. as three Arkansas gymnasts finish tied for second place, individually. Klein, Williams and junior Leah Smith each stepped up with scores of 9.875.
After being on the road for the last three weeks, Arkansas will finally return home to Barnhill Arena on Friday, for a dual meet with No. 6 Kentucky. The event begins at 7:15 p.m. and will air live on the SEC Network.