Gymnastics 12th in preseason poll

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas gymnastics team begins the 2009 season ranked 12th in the GymInfo.com preseason poll it was announced this week. The Razorbacks, who begin the year with the program’s highest preseason rankings, had one of its best seasons in history in 2008 graduating just two seniors from that squad. Arkansas was ranked No. 14 in 2008 and No. 15 in 2007. “We’re excited about the start of what we hope is another great year in Arkansas gymnastics,” said co-head coach René Cook. “We finished last season ranked in the top 10 and we certainly are looking forward to trying to better that finish.” “Preseason polls, are just that, preseason,” added co-head coach Mark Cook. “They are hard to vote on and often reflect a team’s reputation or past accomplishments. We are looking forward to going out and getting a couple of meets under our belts and seeing where we stack up.” The Razorbacks, who begin their seventh season, earned the program’s second trip to the NCAA Championships last year and had their first All-Americas in Michelle Stout and Casey Jo Magee. The junior duo return along with senior Alex LaChance and juniors Amy DeFilippo and Sarah Nagashima leading what should be another solid squad. Georgia grabbed the top spot in the preseason poll. The Bulldogs are coming of their fourth consecutive NCAA Championship title and their ninth overall. Georgia garnered 26 of the 27 first-place votes. Utah opens the preseason ranked second followed by No. 3 Florida, No. 4 UCLA, No. 5 Stanford, No. 6 Alabama, No. 7 LSU, No. 8 Michigan, No. 9 Oregon State and No. 10 Oklahoma rounding out the top 10. Nebraska is in the No. 11 spot followed by the 12th-ranked Razorbacks. Penn State checks in at No. 13, along with No. 14 Denver, No. 15 Auburn, No. 16 Illinois, No. 17 Michigan State, No. 18 Arizona and Boise State and Missouri are tied in the No. 19 spot. The rest of the top 25 includes No. 21 Ohio State, No. 22 Minnesota, No.23 Wet Virginia, No. 24 Arizona State and No. 25 Kentucky. Proving once again the dominance of the Southeastern Conference, its members hold the top spot and four of the top seven places in the poll. All seven SEC members who field gymnastics teams are ranked in the top 25. “Once again, the SEC is extremely competive,” said René Cook. “We feel that competing against the SEC and the other strong teams on our schedule prepares us for success in the postseason. “We start each season expecting the SEC to be tough,” echoed Mark Cook. “We have an extremely competive conference and facing the teams at the top is nothing new. We look forward to the challenge each week.” The Razorbacks open the 2009 season hosting No. 21 Ohio State in a dual meet in Barnhill Arena. Arkansas travels to No. 9 Oregon State where they also face California who is receiving votes followed by a home meet with No. 3 Florida as SEC action gets underway. Arkansas’ top-notched schedule just gets tougher and tougher as the season progresses. The Razorbacks travel to no. 10 Oklahoma, hosting No. 6 Alabama, travel to No. 25 Kentucky and No. 15 Auburn, host No. 1 Georgia, travels to No. 7 LSU, hosts No. 22 Minnesota before wrapping up the regular season at Texas Woman’s University. For more information about Arkansas gymnastics, please log on to ArkansasRazorbacks.com. 2009 GymInfo.com Preseason Poll

Other team receiving votes: Washington, Iowa State, North Carolina, BYU, NC State, Iowa, Southern Utah , San Jose State, Southeast Missouri, Maryland, Kent State, Cal Berkley, Southern Utah, Pittsburgh, Illinois-Chicago , New Hampshire, Sacramento