Arkansas Gymnastics Fact Sheet #11
2008 GYMNASTICS FACT SHEET #11 — No. 15 Michigan StateArkansas hosts No. 15 Michigan State The 11th-ranked Arkansas gymnastics team remains home hosting No. 15 Michigan State Friday at 7:00 p.m. It is the final home meet of the season and the final dual competition of 2008.
Arkansas remains No. 11 The Gym’Backs jumped up one spot to No. 11 in last week’s GymInfo poll and remains in that position again this week. Arkansas had been holding steady at the No. 10 spot but moved one place after the poll went to RQS (from average) a couple weeks ago. Arkansas has been as high as No. 10 in the poll this year.
To RQS or not to RQS? Qualification for regional competition is based on a team’s and an all-around competitor’s six best regular-season-meet scores, of which three must be away. To obtain the regional qualifying score (RQS), the high score is eliminated and the remaining five scores are averaged.
Arkansas ties school record against OU Arkansas was hitting on all cylinders against the Sooners and finished the meet tying the school record with a 196.625. The Gym’Backs also scored a 196.625 in 2004 in a quad meet in Barnhill Arena. Against OU, Arkansas tied the school vault record with a 49.300 and set season-bests on the bars (49.050) and floor (49.350).
Stout wins vault title Sophomore Michelle Stout won the vault title against OU tying her career-best with a 9.90. Teammate Alex LaChance set a career-best with a 9.875 and sophomore Casey Jo Magee tied her career-best with a 9.875 on the event.
A successful floor rotation In addition to posting a season-best 49.35 on the floor, several individuals set season and career marks. Casey Jo Magee tied her career-best with a 9.875 while senior Samantha Cortez posted a career-high with a 9.925 finishing second overall. Senior Emily Peacock tied her season-best with a 9,90.
About Michigan State Michigan State has been climbing the rankings since the start of the season making their way to No. 15 this week. Ranked as low as No. 28, the Spartans have been as high as No. 14 for two weeks before sliding to No. 15 this week after a loss to Auburn. MSU also has losses to Michigan and LSU, both of whom the Gym’Backs have faced. Sophomore Rochelle Robinson had one of her most well-rounded performances of the season against Auburn. She won or had a share of first place in three events – vault, bars and floor – and placed second in the all-around.
Arkansas vs. Michigan State This is the first meeting between Arkansas and Michigan State.
The South Central Rankings The Gym’Backs remain in second place in the South Central Regional standings. Number 9 Oklahoma leads the SC, followed by Arkansas. Nebraska is third followed by Missouri and Arizona rounding out the top five in the region. Here’s the complete regional standings:
| Rk | Team | Ave | Region | High | RQS | |
| 1 | Oklahoma | 196.440 | SC | 196.009 | 196.750 | |
| 2 | Arkansas | 196.100 | SC | 195.860 | 196.625 | |
| 3 | Nebraska | 195.565 | SC | 195.382 | 196.675 | |
| 4 | Missouri | 195.465 | SC | 195.195 | 195.800 | |
| 5 | Arizona | 195.400 | SC | 194.885 | 196.300 | |
| 6 | Arizona State | 194.920 | SC | 194.742 | 196.175 | |
| 7 | Illinois-Champaign | 194.730 | SC | 194.215 | 195.725 | |
| 8 | S.E. Missouri | 194.035 | SC | 193.750 | 194.925 | |
| 9 | Northern Illinois | 193.155 | SC | 193.150 | 194.525 | |
| 10 | Texas Woman’s Univ. | 193.120 | SC | 192.175 | 194.200 | |
| 11 | Illinois State | 192.260 | SC | 191.742 | 193.975 | |
| 12 | Illinois-Chicago | 192.155 | SC | 191.177 | 193.850 |
Gym’Backs live on the web All of the 2008 home meets will be streamed live at LADYBACKS.COM. Click on “All Access” and sign up today. Non-subscribers can view live scores on the web as well.
The 2008 SEC Championship returns to Georgia The state of Georgia is going to be busy this year. The SEC Championship returns to the Gwinett Center in Duluth for the third time since 2003. In addition, the University of Georgia will host the 2008 NCAA Championship behind the three-time defending national champion Georgia Gym Dogs.
More about the NCAA Regionals Nothing is ever a given in sport but if the season ended today, the 10th-ranked Gym’Backs would earn the program’s fifth consecutive trip in six seasons to the NCAA Regional Championship. The NCAA regional selection is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. eastern/4:00 p.m. central Monday March 31. This year’s regionals are as follows:
| Region | Host | Facility | Location | |
| Central | LSU | PMAC | Baton Rouge, LA | |
| North Central | Minnesota | Sports Pavilion | Minneapolis, MN | |
| Northeast | Penn State | Rec Hall | University Park, PA | |
| South Central | Oklahoma | Lloyd Noble Center | Nornan, OK | |
| Southeast | Florida | Stephen C. O’Connell | Gainesville, FL | |
| West | Oregon St. | Gill Coliseum | Corvallis, OR | |
| Championship | Georgia | Stegeman Coliseum | Athens, GA |
2009 is approaching Yes, the 2008 season is just starting but the Gym’Backs can look forward to 2009 as well. Arkansas has been selected to host the 2009 NCAA South Central Regional Championship April 4, in Barnhill Arena. It is the second NCAA Regional Arkansas has hosted. The Gym’Backs also hosted the 2006 South Central Regional upsetting UCLA to finish second overall and advance to the program’s first NCAA Championship. The other hosts include Ohio State (Central), Iowa (North Central), TBA (Northeast), North Carolina State (Southeast), Washington (West) and Nebraska (Championship).
