Final regular season meet at UCLA

FAYETTEVILLE – The No. 15 University of Arkansas gymnastics team (6-6-1, 1-5-1 SEC) travels to Los Angeles, Calif., to face the No. 8 UCLA Bruins in the teams’ final regular season meet of the 2013 season. The meet is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. central in Pauley Pavilion.

In the event rankings, Arkansas is tied at No. 12 on the floor, No. 13 on the bars, No. 21 on the vault and No. 22 on the beam.

Individually, juniors Katherine Grable is ranked No. 25 in the all-around competition and Shelby Salmon moved into the rankings for the first time this season on the bars tied for No. 20 on the event.

“Scoring our highest road score of the year was really good for us,” co-head coach Mark Cook said. “We jumped up about 10 spots in the rankings, and it was really good for us. The rotation was a little bit different then we are used to but we could very well get the same draw for regionals, so this really helps us get ready for the post season. We started off really well on the beam, and then to finish up strong the way we did on the bars show where our team is at right now, I was really pleased by their ability to compete last weekend, and not let the rotation or any other distractions get to them. ”

Last week, juniors Grable and Salmon each tied for event titles at the Minnesota quad meet. Grable tied for the all-around title and the beam title, while Salmon picked up her second bars title in as many weeks.

UCLA holds the series lead at 7-3, including a pair of wins in the 2012 season. The last time Arkansas visited Los Angeles, the Razorbacks recorded an upset win in 2009, 196.425-195.800.

The Bruins are coming into the meet have scored a 197.075 in the Heart of a Champion meet, where they placed second to the Michigan Wolverines one week ago inside Pauley Pavilion.

“It’s a great venue to compete in,” Cook said. “This will be a good meet for us and really give us a head’s up on other team because they are hosting the NCAA National Championships, and if we are fortunate enough to make it back here, it will be a confidence boost for our gymnasts. This weekend is important for us, because it is another chance for us to move up higher in the rankings to get a better seed for the post season. We only have two meets left in the season two pick up scores and we need a good one this weekend.”

Fans can follow along during the meet with live results and interactive blog. UCLA will also feature a live stream on its website. Following the meet Friday, the Razorbacks will travel to Little Rock, Ark., for the 2013 Southeastern Conference Gymnastics Championships on March 23.