Arkansas Travels To Michigan State

MEET NOTESWATCH LIVE ($) | LIVE SCORING | BUY TICKETS

FOLLOW US ON: FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM 

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – After a stretch of six straight Southeastern Conference meets, the Arkansas gymnastics team steps out of league action for just the second time this season, traveling to Michigan State on Saturday afternoon. The meet is set for a 1 p.m. start in Jenison Field House on Big Ten Network Plus (subscription required).

Jessica Yamzon scored a career-best 39.300 in the all-around and Arkansas (2-5) posted a season-best 49.325 on floor exercise in a 197.125-195.200 loss to No. 3 Florida this past Friday. Yamzon matched a career best on vault (9.775) and set a career best on floor exercise (9.875).

All five competing gymnasts on floor exercise scored a 9.825 or higher, including Yamzon, and four of the five competing gymnasts matched or set season bests, led by Samantha Nelson with a season-best score of 9.900. Nelson had scored a 9.900 to the win the balance beam title at No. 17 Auburn earlier this season.

Yamzon has won two individual all-around titles and ranks eighth in the SEC in the all-around (38.955) and tied for 19th in the SEC on balance beam (9.820). Nelson ranks 21st in the SEC on floor exercise (9.820) and tied for 26th in the SEC on balance beam (9.820).

Saturday marks the second all-time meeting between Arkansas and Michigan State (3-6) and the first meeting since 2008, when Arkansas won 196.075-194.725 in Fayetteville. The Spartans enter Saturday with a RQS of 194.180 and a high score of 195.625.

Notable

  • Arkansas is 1-0 all-time against Michigan State and 27-15 all-time against Big Ten opponents.
  • Four different gymnasts have combined for six scores of 9.900 this season:
    • Amanda Wellick (Vault at UCLA)
    • Sydney McGlone (Vault vs. Missouri, Balance Beam at Georgia)
    • Samantha Nelson (Balance Beam at Auburn, Floor Exercise vs. Florida)
    • Hailey Garner (Uneven Bars vs. LSU)
  • Six different gymnasts have won individual titles this season across six different meets and four different events:
    • Amanda Wellick (Vault at UCLA)
    • Jessica Yamzon (Balance Beam vs. Missouri, All-Around vs. Alabama, All-Around at Auburn)
    • Sydney McGlone (Balance Beam at Georgia, Vault vs. Alabama)
    • Braie Speed (Vault vs. Alabama)
    • Samantha Nelson (Balance Beam at Auburn
    • Hailey Garner (Uneven Bars vs. LSU)
  • Jessica Yamzon ranks eighth in the SEC in the all-around (38.955) and tied for 19th on balance beam (9.820).
  • Samantha Nelson ranks 21st in the SEC on floor exercise (9.820) and tied for 26th on balance beam (9.800). Sydney McGlone and Braie Speed are both tied for 20th in the SEC on vault (9.820).
  • Arkansas ranks 21st in the nation with a RQS of 195.525 and 20th in the nation on balance beam (48.955) and floor exercise (48.980).
  • Arkansas ranks seventh in the SEC and ninth in the nation in attendance with an average crowd of 4,058 and a large crowd of 5,456 for the meet vs. Alabama on Jan. 27.
  • Arkansas ranks 10th in the nation in strength of schedule, according to RoadToNationals.com.

Looking Ahead

Arkansas travels to No. 11 Kentucky for its final SEC meet of the season on March 3. Arkansas hosts a Senior Night tri-meet against San Jose State and Centenary on March 10 and will compete at the SEC Championships on March 18 in Jacksonville.

Single-meet tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for youth 17 and under. Admission is also free for UA students with ID. Tickets are also available for the NCAA Regional that Arkansas will be hosting in Barnhill Arena on April 1. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for youth and UA students.

Fans can purchase tickets online or by calling the Razorback Ticket Center at 800-982-HOGS or 479-575-5151.

For more information on Arkansas gymnastics, follow @RazorbackGym on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.