Gym'Backs ranked 15th in preseason poll

FAYETTEVILLE — The University of Arkansas gymnastics team is ranked 15th in the GymInfo Preseason Coaches Poll released today. Arkansas closed the book on with a fairy tale ending to the first four years reaching the NCAA Championship with it’s first recruiting class. The Gym’Backs graduated five stars from that team but return a solid corps of gymnasts who are looking to continue Arkansas’ tradition of success. The 15th place preseason ranking is the highest start in the five-year history of the gymnastics program. Arkansas added gymnastics for the 2003 and received votes in the preseason poll in 2004. The Gym’Backs were ranked 24th in 2005 and 20th to start the 2006 season. "Each year we have consistently made progress in the preseason poll and that’s encouraging," said co-head coach Mark Cook. "It’s nice to be recognized by your peers and have them respect your program with this preseason ranking. We’re honored and, at the same time, motivated to continue this progression." "It’s really exciting to, within such a short period, be ranked in the top 15 to start the year," said co-head coach Rene Cook. "Of course our goal is to return to the National Championship and we start that journey hosting the Super Six Challenge in Barnhill Jan. 5." Arkansas’ schedule is again a tough one as the Gym’Backs face 21 ranked opponents on the 23-team slate. Arkansas opens the year hosting one of the biggest meets in the country Jan. 5 with the Super Six Challenge welcoming No. 3 Florida, No. 9 LSU, No. 7 Nebraska, No. 14 Penn State and No. 17 Denver. The Gym’Backs travel to No. 14 Penn State Jan. 13, followed by a home meet with top-ranked Georgia Jan. 19. Arkansas next travels t No. 9 LSU followed by a Feb. 2 trip to No. 2 Utah where they also face No. 26 BYU and No. 32 Southern Utah. Back-to-back home meets Feb. 9 and Feb. 16 see Arkansas welcome No. 3 Florida and No. 4 Alabama, respectively. The Gym’Backs follow that up with consecutive road meets at t22 Kentucky and No. 20 Auburn. Arkansas hosts the first of two quad meets welcoming No. 24 West Virginia, No. 30 New Hampshire and No. 40 Pittsburgh March 9. The Gym’Backs travel to No. 11 Arizona State facing the Sun Devils March 16 for the first time in program history followed by the final home meet of the year March 23, hosting No. 18 Missouri, Texas Woman’s University and Southeast Missouri State. The regular season concludes with the Southeastern Conference Championship in North Little Rock, Ark., at ALTELL Arena. For more information and tickets to all home events please call the Lady Razorback Ticket Office at 57-LBACK or log on to LADYBACKS.COM.
2007 GymInfo Preseason Coaches Poll

Other team receiving votes: BYU, Illinois, North Carolina State, Ohio State, New Hampshire, Iowa, Southern Utah, Maryland, Utah State, Cal State Fullerton, Washington, California, San Jose State, Sac. State, Pittsburgh, Illinois-Chicago, Ball State, Central Michigan