Senior Night for LaChance

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Lone senior Alex LaChance leads the 10th-ranked University of Arkansas gymnastics team against No. 18 Minnesota in the Razorbacks final home regular-season meet of 2009 Friday at 7 p.m. in Barnhill Arena. LaChance, a New Windsor, N.Y., native will be honored in a post-meet celebration immediately following the contest. Meanwhile, Arkansas is in the midst of a record-setting season in which the team has more SEC wins, set several school records and remained in the top 10 for the entire year. “It’s amazing how fast the season is going,” said co-head coach Mark Cook. “It seems like you wait so long to start and before you know it, you’re eight or nine weeks into it. This team is great to be around and it’s been a fun year.” Arkansas has been paced by their all-arounders this year with junior Casey Jo Magee winning a school record six all-around titles. Freshman Jaime Pisani has picked up two titles in her first season of collegiate competition. Juniors Michelle Stout and Sarah Nagashima have also been steady giving Arkansas a solid base of scores on all four events. “Our all-arounders have been doing a great job,” said Mark Cook. “They have been the solid all season and continue to do good things in the gym.” Arkansas will need its leaders this weekend against Minnesota. The Gophers are coming off one of their best scores in program history and their best number in nearly two seasons. Minnesota is a regionally-qualifying team from a year ago, coming up short to the Razorbacks at last year’s regional championship in Minneapolis last year. “It’s a different atmosphere with a non-SEC opponent,” said co-head coach René Cook. “Of course it’s senior night and Alex has been strong for us all four years. Minnesota’s a good team and they are well-coached and they’re on an up-swing right now. They are looking for a win but we want to focus and take care of business.” The meet is the final home contest of the regular season. The Razorbacks travel to Texas Woman’s University for a quad meet before heading to Nashville, Tenn., for the 2009 SEC Championship. Arkansas returns home hosting the 2009 NCAA South Central Regional Championship April 4, in Barnhill Arena.