Stout named SEC Gymnast of the Week

FAYETTEVILLE – University of Arkansas sophomore Michelle Stout earned Southeastern Conference Gymnast of the Week honors the league office announced Tuesday. Stout, an Endwell, N.Y., native won the all-around title with a career-best 39.225 leading the 10th-ranked Gym’Backs to a season-best 195.95 at No. 4 Alabama Friday. “We are very proud of Michelle,” said co-head coach Mark Cook. “She works extremely hard every day in the gym and to have a performance like this in front of 15,000 fans is exciting.” Stout won the first all-around title of her career with numbers that included a season-best 9.875 on the vault, a 9.80 on bars, a career-best 9.75 on beam and she tied her season best on floor with a 9.80. Stout’s win is Arkansas’ third all-around title against a higher-ranked opponent and the first against a top five team. Her win was the second all-around title for Arkansas this season and ties the second-best all-around score of the season for the Gym’Backs. “We are excited for this honor for Michelle and the program,” said co-head coach René Cook. “Michelle has been a major contributor to the success of the program and all-around title at Alabama was a product of hard work and determination.” Stout is the fourth Gym’Back to be honored by the SEC in the six years of the program’s existence. Dana McQuillin (2004), Katie Hardman (2006) and Cassie Drew (2007) also earned gymnast of the week honors. Stout and the Gym’Backs return to SEC action Friday hosting No. 35 Kentucky in Barnhill Arena at 7:00 p.m. for more information about Arkansas gymnastics or for ticket information please call the Razorback Ticket Office at 57-LBACK or log on to LADYBACKS.COM.