Freshmen tie for event titles in loss

LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Arkansas freshmen Heather Elswick and Sydnie Dillard each tied for individual event titles leading the ninth-ranked Razorback gymnastics team to a 193.075 against Kentucky in Memorial Gym Friday.

Elswick stuck a Yurchenko layout full vault to share the title for the meet and Dillard was solid on the balance beam with a stuck dismount as both scored a 9.825.

The Razorbacks fell to Kentucky 195.500-193.075 in the second Southeastern Conference meet of the year.

Senior All-American Amy Borsellino finished second in the all-around competition with a 38.725, led by a pair of 9.775’s on the vault and bars.

“Heather and Sydnie did well for us tonight,” co-head coach Mark Cook said. “Each of them did well on a couple of events for us but they are not quite where we want them to be yet on all of their events.”

In rotation one junior Shelby Salmon stuck her dismount on bars to lead the team with a 9.825, and help the team score a 48.35 on the event. Borsellino and freshman Erin Freier each posted a 9.775, followed by freshmen Keara Glover and Elswick who recorded a 9.625 and a 9.35, respectively.

Kentucky jumped out to an early lead after rotation one 48.75-48.35 led by Holly Cunningham.

On the vault the Razorbacks recorded a 48.525, led by Elswick with a 9.825 to tie for the event title. Borsellino recorded a 9.775 followed by junior Bailee Zumwalde a 9.725, senior Kelci Lewis a 9.625, and Freier 9.575.

After two rotations in the books Arkansas trailed Kentucky 97.625-96.875, after the Wild cats scored a 48.925 on bars.

In the third rotation the Razorbacks counted two strong routines from Dillard a 9.775, and Zumwalde a 9.725. Arkansas would finish with a 47.525 on the event.

Before the start of the fourth and final rotation Arkansas would trail Kentucky 146.675-144.40.

On the balance beam, the Razorbacks were paced by Dillard who recorded a 9.825, which was enough to tie for the event title. The Razorbacks would add three additional scores of 9.775 from Borsellino, Glover and Lewis. Arkansas would finish with a 48.675 for the event

Kentucky would score a 48.825 on the floor to make the final score of the meet 195.50-193.075.

“It was a tough night for us,” co-head coach Cook said. “We need to get back home and put in some work to get these athletes ready to compete on a level we know they are capable of.”

The Razorbacks will return to Barnhill Arena next weekend to host the University of Denver Pioneers Friday night at 7 p.m., which will feature an autograph session after the meet.
    For more information on the University of Arkansas gymnastics team or the Arkansas Razorbacks please go to ArkansasRazorbacks.com
--AGATE TO FOLLOW--

January 18, 2013
Memorial Coliseum
Lexington, Ky.
Attendance 5,613

Rotation I
Bars
Amy Borsellino: 9.775, Heather Elswick: 9.35, Keara Glover: 9.625, Shelby Salmon: 9.825, Kelci Lewis: 8.95, Erin Freier: 9.775

Rotation II
Vault
Amy Borsellino: 9.775, Bailee Zumwalde: 9.725, Kelci Lewis: 9.625, Heather Elswick: 9.825, Erin Freier: 9.575

Rotation III
Floor
Bailee Zumwalde: 9.725, Sydnie Dillard: 9.775, Heather Elswick: 9.4, Kelci Lewis: 9.025, Amy Borsellino: 9.45, Lily Hardin: 9.175
   
Rotation IV
Beam
Amy Borsellino: 9.725, Shelby Salmon: 9.525, Keara Glover: 9.725, Sydnie Dillard: 9.825, Erin Freier: 9.675, Kelci Lewis: 9.725