Gymnastics announces tough 2007 schedule

Jump to 2007 schedule FAYETTEVILLE — A pair of high profile in-state meets bookend an exciting schedule for the 12th-ranked University of Arkansas gymnastics team, co-head coaches Mark and Rene Cook announced today. The Gym’Backs open the season with the Super Six Challenge in Barnhill Arena then close the regular season at ALLTEL Arena in North Little Rock, Ark., for the 2007 Southeastern Conference Championship. The schedule is packed with marquee teams starting with defending national champion Georgia and the top four teams from last year’s NCAA Championship. In addition, the Gym’Backs’ 16-team, 12-date regular season schedule features 15 teams who reached regionals, and six teams who advanced to nationals. "We have an extremely tough but exciting schedule starting off with the Super Six Challenge," said co-head coach Mark Cook. "We’re hosting national champions Georgia, and traveling to Utah before competing in our own state at the SEC Championships in Little Rock. Our fans will have a chance to observe the steady climb of this exciting program, as we take on the best in the country." The Super Six Challenge is televised each year by ESPN, and considered the premier college gymnastics event of the early season. Arkansas welcome Penn State and Florida in the first of two meetings with each of those programs for the Super Six on Jan. 5 along with Denver and Iowa. "The schedule is very competitive as always," added co-head coach Rene Cook. "Hosting the Super Six Challenge is a great way to start off our season. It gives the program publicity coming out of the gate, being that the meet is shown on ESPN. We hope to make a statement in that meet." The Gym’Backs follow Super Six with the program’s first trip to Penn State, Rene Cook’s alma mater, for dual meet action with the Nittany Lions Jan. 13. Arkansas returns home hosting defending national champion Georgia in the first SEC meet of the year Jan. 19. Two consecutive road meets follow at LSU Jan. 26 and at Utah Feb. 2. LSU was second in the Central Region while the Utes were second in the Northeast Region going on to a runner-up finish at the Super Six. "Going to Utah is particularly important because they are hosting the national championships," said Rene Cook. "Our goal is to return to the NCAAs, and if we do so, having a meeting prior to the Championships at the host arena will definitely be to our advantage." The back-and-forth schedule continues with two in a row in Barnhill as the Gym’Backs welcome Florida, Feb. 9, followed by Alabama Feb. 16, in SEC meets. The Crimson Tide finished third at the national championship last year. February concludes with a trip to Kentucky on the 23rd and March begins with a trip to Auburn on the 2nd. The Wildcats were fourth in the Central Region last year and Auburn finished third in the Northeast Regional sending several individuals to the national meet. The Gym’Backs break from conference action hosting West Virginia and Pittsburgh in dual meet action March 9, followed by non-conference meets at Arizona State March 16, and against Missouri, Texas Women’s and Southeast Missouri March 23. The regular season concludes with the SEC Championship at ALLTEL Arena in Little Rock, Ark., March 31. "Having the SEC Championships in Little Rock is extremely exciting," said Rene Cook. "The best collegiate gymnastics in the country will be in our own backyard. We are looking forward to hopefully having great fan support to help us jump to the next level, the top four in the conference." For more information and tickets for Arkansas gymnastics please call the Lady Razorback Ticket Office at 57-LBACK or log on to LADYBACKS.COM.
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS2007 LADY RAZORBACK GYMNASTICS