No. 11 Gym'Backs earn NCAA Regional bid to Minnesota

FAYETTEVILLE – The 11th-ranked University of Arkansas gymnastics team travels to Minnesota for the 2008 North Central Regional in Minneapolis on Saturday, April 12, at 6:00 p.m. This is the program’s fifth NCAA Regional appearance in six seasons as Arkansas hopes to reach the NCAA Championship for a second time. The Gym’Backs enter the weekend as the second seed of the regional behind second-ranked Utah. Also competing is No. 14 Arizona, No. 23 Iowa, No. 28 Minnesota and No. 27 Southern Utah. “We’re excited to go to Minnesota,” said Arkansas co-head gymnastics coach René Cook. “It’s great to go to a different place and see some different teams.” While the fifth appearance in the six-year history of the program, the Gym’Backs hosted the 2006 South Central Regional upsetting No. 9 UCLA and advancing to the program’s first NCAA Championship. It’s a feat Arkansas would like to repeat. “Obviously, our goal is to finish as one of the top two teams and get back to the NCAA Championships,” said Cook. “We know that to reach that goal, we have to focus on the goals we’ve had all season – hit our routines and leave it all out on the floor.” Arkansas is no stranger to Minnesota and began the 2005 season with a dual meet in the Twin Cities. This year, the Gym’Backs open on bars following Iowa in the rotation. “Minnesota is a great venue for us,” said Cook. “Some of the team was there in 2005 and we really enjoyed our trip there. We’re also excited to start on bars. I think that’s a great rotation for us.” Tickets for the event are $13.00 for chair backs, $11.00 for adults on the bench seating and $7.00 for student and senior bench seating. Contact the Minnesota Ticket Office for more information. Arkansas continues its workouts Wednesday before departing for Minnesota Thursday, April 9. For more information about the Gym’Backs or the 2008 NCAA Regionals, please log on to LADYBACKS.COM.