The No. 16 Arkansas gymnastics team made more history Friday night inside legendary Barnhill Arena, as the GymBacks defeated No. 6 Kentucky, 197.400-197.150.
It was the highest-ranked team Arkansas has ever defeated and the first regular-season win over Kentucky since 2016. It was also the Hogs’ fifth time this season scoring over 197, and tied their fourth-highest score ever.
The GymBacks (6-5-1, 3-2-1 SEC) outscored the Wildcats on three of the four apparatuses – uneven bars, vault and floor exercise – as four Razorbacks claimed at least a share on an event title. They also posted their best score ever on the floor routines, with a stellar 49.675, topping a score of 49.575, set in 2015.
Sophomores Cami Weaver and Lauren Williams excelled on the vault, tying for the event title with scores of 9.925. Junior Leah Smith put up a 9.900.
Junior Maddie Jones won the bars event with a score of 9.950, followed closely by senior Jensen Scalzo‘s 9.900.
Sophomore Frankie Price dominated on the floor exercise, yet again, putting up a nearly perfect score of 9.975, which tied her for the event title. That matches her career-high and ties her for the program record with former gymnasts Katherine Grable and Jaime Pisani. Although, Price has now done it twice. Jones and Williams also put on a show, each scoring a 9.950.
Sophomore Cally Swaney led the Hogs on the balance beam with a team-high 9.850, with Weaver and junior Kalyxta Gamiao turning in scores of 9.800.
Arkansas will now be off for over a week, before hitting the road to face No. 13 Missouri on March 3. The meet will begin at 5 p.m. and be broadcast on the SEC Network.