Luncheon Wednesday at FCC

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas’ gymnastics team, ranked No. 8 in the preseason poll after finishing fifth in the nation last year, opens its season on Saturday with the 7 p.m. home meet against No. 20 Arizona in Barnhill Arena.

On Wednesday, co-head coaches Mark and René Cook will meet with fans for a luncheon at 11:30 a.m. at Fayetteville Country Club to preview the meet.

Additional luncheons are scheduled for the first Wednesday of every month throughout the season.Lunch will be served at 11:30 and the coaches will speak around noon. Student-athletes may be able to attend some of the luncheons.

The meal costs $12, and includes food with a choice of three entrees, drink and tip.

The Razorbacks are coming off the best year in their seven years of existence. In 2009, Arkansas won the NCAA South Central Regional, advanced to the NCAA Championship, advanced to the NCAA Super Six and finished fifth in the nation.

Along the way, Arkansas recorded wins over No. 1 Florida, No. 2 Utah, No. 4 Stanford, No. 6 LSU, No. 6 Oregon State, No. 7 UCLA, No. 7 Oklahoma and No. 9 Alabama.

In the program’s seven-year history, Arkansas has earned an NCAA Regional bid six times, advanced to the NCAA Championship three times, earned 14 All-America honors, had five student-athletes advance to the NCAA individual event finals, ranked among the nation’s top 15 in attendance average every season and ranked among the nation’s top 35 in team grade point average each year.

In addition to the Jan. 9 opener against No. 20 Arizona, other home meets are Jan. 29 against Kentucky, Feb. 5 against No. 14 Auburn, Feb. 19 against No. 6 LSU, March 12 against Pittsburgh and March 19 against No. 9 Oklahoma.

Season tickets are $40 each and can be purchased online at ArkansasRazorbacks.com or by calling the UA Ticket Office at 479-575-5151 or 800-982-4647.