Practice meet video loaded

FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas’ gymnastics team held a practice meet in Barnhill Arena on Dec. 17, which was the fifth intrasquad meet of the season for the Razorbacks.

The first four were held in the Huntley Facility in the Lewis Center. Friday’s session was like an actual meet because it was open to fans and judges posted scores.

"We were able to get our feet wet tonight and work out some cobwebs," Mark Cook said on Friday. "We performed a lot of new routines and showed a lot of our depth."

Arkansas is led by two returning All-Americans in junior Jaime Pisani and senior Michelle Stout, who missed all of 2010 with an injury. Other returnees are senior Stacy Bartlett, juniors Mariah Howdeshell and Genny Salvatore, and sophomores Natalie Bohonsky, Amy Borsellino, Kelci Lewis and Amanda Siebert.

Five newcomers are on the roster, including sophomore transfer Jordan Salsberg from Southeast Missouri State, and freshmen Katherine Grable, Shelby Salmon, Scarlett Williams and Bailee Zumwalde.

The Razorbacks opened with Howdeshell, Salsberg, Pisani, Salmon, Stout, Lewis, Salvatore, Grable, Zumwalde and Bohonsky all competing on bars, in that order. Following bars, Siebert, Howdeshell, Grable, Salsberg, Pisani, Stout and Lewis were on vault. On floor, Siebert was followed by Zumwalde, Bartlett, Salsberg, Lewis, Grable and Pisani. The last event was beam with a lineup of Pisani, Bartlett, Howdeshell, Salsberg, Grable, Salmon and Zumwalde.

"This practice meet helps because a lot of the girls aren’t used to this format," Cook said. "We have some work to do to fine-tune our routines, but they all performed their skills confidently."

The Razorbacks open the season on Jan. 7 at No. 4 Oklahoma. The home opener is Jan. 14 against No. 2 Alabama.