Gym'Backs head East

FAYETTEVILLE — For the second year in a row, the University of Arkansas gymnastics team is traveling to the NCAA Regional Championships Saturday, March 9, in Durham, N.H. Arkansas, ranked 15th in the national poll, was one of 18 teams seeded for the regional meet. The Gym’Backs travel to the University of New Hampshire where they face No. 3 Louisiana State and No. 10 Oklahoma. In addition to the top three teams, host No. 41 New Hampshire, No. 51 Rutgers and No. 52 Pittsburg in the six team event. "We’re fired up and ready to head to Regionals," said co-head coach Mark Cook. "We’re peaking at the right time and we’re ready to go. We’re definitely prepared after the SEC Championships." The Gym’Backs have made significant strides in the program’s development since adding gymnastics in 2003. Arkansas posted its best finish at the Southeastern Conference meet March 26, had their best ranking in program history at the end of the regular season and, now have a change to advance to the NCAA Championships April 21-23, with a top two finish at Regionals. "We needed the down time between SECs and Regionals," said Cook. "You have to have that because you have both an emotional and a physical let down after an exciting meet like SECs. It was good to have a break but now we’re back at it and ready to go." The Gym’Backs begin the meet on floor, move to vault and then have a bye. Arkansas next goes to bars and beam and finishes with a bye at the meet. All seven SEC teams earned Regional bids this year. Alabama hosts the Central Regional with Auburn and Kentucky in attendance. Florida hosts the Southeast Regional with Georgia visiting Gainesville and both Arkansas and LSU are taking part in the Northeast Regional. The top two teams advance to the NCAA Championships hosted by Auburn. The top two individuals in each event not on one of the top two teams also advance. Follow the Gym’Backs via live stats at LADYBACKS.COM.