Pisani still No. 1 going into home regional

FAYETTEVILLE - When Arkansas' gymnastics team takes part in the NCAA South Central Regional taking place in Barnhill Arena on April 7, Razorback senior All-American Jaime Pisani will compete as the top-ranked all-arounder and floor worker in the nation.

Pisani ended the regular season leading the nation in both categories in the GymInfo national rankings released this week.

Pisani, who won last week's Southeastern Conference beam championship, and finished second in both the all-around and on floor, has a Regional Qualifying Score (RQS) of 39.590 in the all-around with an average of 39.464. On floor, she's tied for first in the nation with an RQS of 9.940 and leads the country with an average score of 9.927. Her school-record highs of 39.725 in the all-around and 9.975 on floor equal the highs in the nation this year.

Pisani is also tied for seventh in the country on beam, tied for ninth on bars and tied for 15th on vault.

Sophomore All-American Katherine Grable, who has missed the last three meets with an ankle injury but may be back for the regional, is No. 4 in the country in the all-around, tied for seventh on floor, tied for 10th on vault and tied for 17th on beam. Grable is the only gymnast in the country to match Pisani's 39.725 all-around score this year.

Senior Mariah Howdeshell is tied for fifth on bars and junior Jordan Salsberg, who is out for the year with a knee injury, is tied for 44th in the all-around.

As a team, Arkansas enters NCAA competition No. 10 in the country. The Razorbacks are tied for No. 6 on vault, tied for No. 7 on bars, No. 15 on beam and No. 9 on floor.

In the South Central Region rankings, Arkansas is No. 3 overall, No. 3 on vault, bars and floor, and No. 5 on beam.

Pisani is first in the all-around, Grable is No. 3 and Salsberg No. 11.

On vault, Grable is tied for No. 4, Pisani is No. 6, Salsberg tied for No. 12, and junior All-Americans Amy Borsellino and Kelci Lewis along with sophomore Scarlett Williams is tied for No. 21. On bars, Howdeshell is No. 4, Pisani No. 5, sophomore Shelby Salmon is tied for No. 10 and Grable tied for No. 14.

On beam, Pisani is tied for No. 2, Grable is No. 7 and Williams is tied for No. 14. Pisani is tied for first on floor, Grable is No. 3 and Borsellino is tied for No. 15.

Tickets for the regional are $10 for adults. The first 500 UA students will be admitted free with a valid ID. For others, a $5 ticket is available for youth/students, everyone 18 and younger or with a valid UA student ID. A family plan is also available, including two adult and two youth tickets for $25.

Tickets can be purchased at the UA Ticket Center on Razorback Road, by calling 479-575-5151 or 800-982-4647, or online at ArkansasRazorbacks.com.

For more information regarding Razorback gymnastics or University of Arkansas athletics, please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.

GymInfo National Rankings
March 26, 2012

GymInfo National Rankings
Individual All-Around

GymInfo National Rankings
Individual Floor