Grable wins all-around in home opener

FAYETTEVILLE – The 12th-ranked University of Arkansas gymnastics team fell to 11th-ranked Georgia 196.2-195.775 in the Southeastern Conference home opener and the first meet of the season. The Razorbacks strung together many standout performances on the evening, highlighted by junior Katherine Grable’s win in the all-around competition.

“It feels good to get the nerves out,” All-American Grable said. “I feel like my events went well, but I could have been better on my bars routine.”

Grable led the all-around competition from the get-go with a team-high 9.875 on the vault to open the competition. However, Grable saved her best for last as she recorded a 9.925, the highest score of the night, on the floor to close out the meet against the Gym Dogs. 

Led by Grable’s vault, Arkansas opened with a 49.100 as a team after the first rotation. Freshman Heather Elswick recorded her first plus-9.80 of her career with a 9.825 on vault.  Senior All-American Kelci Lewis counted a 9.85, senior All-American Amy Borsellino a 9.80, junior All-American Bailee Zumwalde a 9.75, and freshman Erin Freier a 9.725 for the Razorbacks on vault.

The 49.100 on vault would put the Razorbacks on top after the first rotation leading Georgia who posted a 49.025 on bars. The Gym Dogs would move back to the lead with a pair of 9.90’s from Lindsey Cheek and Cat Hires, for a total of 49.325 on vault. Georgia would take the lead 98.35 to 97.825 after the second rotation.

In rotation three Arkansas scored a 48.950, led by Grable with a 9.875, as well as freshman Sydnie Dillard with a 9.875. Freshman Keara Glover scored a 9.800, junior Shelby Salmon a 9.75, Borsellino a 9.65 and Freier a 9.00.

Georgia recorded a 48.825 in rotation three on floor, led by Tanella with a 9.875.

“We are exactly where we thought we would be,” co-head coach Mark Cook said. “We knew coming into today that our freshmen were going to play a big part in the meet. Katherine really stepped up for us tonight, and Sydnie had an excellent set of routines for us in her first meet.”

On the floor, Arkansas scored a 49.000, led by Grable with a 9.925. Dillard recorded a 9.85, Zumwalde posted a 9.80, Lewis scored a 9.75, Elswick a 9.675, and Borsellino a 9.125. 

Georgia finished on beam with a 49.025, led by Shayla Worley with a 9.90. 

The Razorbacks will hit the road next Friday Jan. 18, as they travel to Lexington, Ky., to face the No. 25 Kentucky Wildcats in Memorial Coliseum, with a 6 p.m. (CT) scheduled start. The meet will be televised on a later date on FSN. The Razorbacks will return to Barnhill Arena on Jan. 25, to host the University of Denver at 7 p.m.

Jan. 11, 2013

Barnhill Arena

Fayetteville, Ark.

Att. 2,407

ROTATION I

Arkansas

Vault: 49.100

Amy Borsellino 9.80, Bailee Zumwalde 9.75, Kelci Lewis 9.850, Heather Elswick 9.825, Katherine Grable 9.875 Erin Freier 9.725

Georgia

Bars: 49.025

Lindsey Cheek 9.70, Cat Hires 9.725, Christa Tanella 9.85, Brittany Rogers 9.825, Shayla Worley 9.775, Chelsea Davis 9.85

ROTATION II

Arkansas 

Bars: 49.725

Amy Borsellino 9.775, Heather Elswick 9.575, Shelby Salmon 9.775, Keara Glover 9.675, 

Katherine Grable 9.775, Kelci Lewis 9.70

       

Georgia

Vault: 49.325

Chelsea Davis 9.80, Sarah Persinger 9.80, Lindsey Cheek 9.90, Brittany Rogers 9.875, Cat Hires 

9.90, Brandie Jay 9.85

ROTATION III

Arkansas

Beam: 48.950

Amy Borsellino 9.650, Erin Freier 9.00, Shelby Salmon 9.75, Keara Glover 9.80, Sydnie Dillard 

9.875, Katherine Grable 9.875

       

Georgia

Floor: 48.825

Kaylan Earls 9.70, Christa Tanella 9.875, Cat Hires 9.700, Sarah Persinger 9.75, Brandie Jay 9.60, 

Shayla Worley 9.80

ROTATION IV

Arkansas

Floor: 49.000

Bailee Zumwalde 9.80, Sydnie Dillard 9.850, Heather Elswick 9.675, Kelci Lewis 9.75, Amy Borsellino 9.125, Katherine Grable 9.925

Georgia

Beam: 49.025

Lindsey Cheek 9.85, Sarah Persinger, Brittany Rogers 9.625, Christa Tanella 9.275, Shayla Worley 9.90, Kaylan Ealrs 9.875