Razorbacks post season-opening record in win

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The 12th-ranked University of Arkansas gymnastics team scored a program-best opening score with a 195.775 defeating No. 21 Ohio State Friday in Barnhill Arena. Arkansas (1-0, 0-0 SEC) swept all the individual titles behind a team-leading performance from junior All-American Casey Jo Magee. Magee won the all-around title, the fifth of her career, and took top honors in the uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise. Junior All-American Michelle Stout picked up the win on the vault for Arkansas. “It was a great opening meet,” said Arkansas co-head coach Rene Cook. “We were a little tight but fought through it pretty well. It’s exciting to start out on such a great note.” Arkansas competed four all-arounders and took the top three places in the meet. Magee won with a 39.300 followed by Stout with 39.200 and Nagashima with a career-best 39.050. The Razorbacks opened the meet on vault posting a 48.675 on the vault with some tight scores out of the gate. Stout, who earned All-America honors on vault last year, anchored the team with a meet-winning 9.85 for Arkansas. The Razorbacks, however, trailed after the first rotation as Ohio State posted a 48.75 on bars to open their season. Arkansas rallied with a 49.075 on bars in the second rotation, counting five scores of 9.80 or better. Magee, a bars All-American, scored a 9.85 en route to the win. Junior Sarah Nagashima added a 9.825 for Arkansas. The conclusion of the second rotation saw the scores shift in Arkansas’ favor as the Razorbacks scratched out a 97.750-97.125 lead that they would not surrender. Nagashima opened the beam with a career-best 9.80 and sophomore Stacy Bartlett matched that score as Arkansas seemed to grab the momentum. Magee finished with a 9.875 as Arkansas was nearly a point better than Ohio State heading into the final rotation. The Razorbacks ended the night with a 49.050 on the floor paced by a 9.85 from Magee in the final performance. A 9.835 from Stout and a 9.80 from freshman Jaime Pisani secured the win. The Razorbacks hit the road for the first away meet of 2009 traveling to No. 9 Oregon State for a tri-meet with California who is receiving votes. Arkansas returns home Friday, Jan. 23, hosting No. 3 Florida to open Southeastern Conference competition.