Zaziski Wins Her Second SEC Freshman of the Week Award
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – For the second time this season, the Southeastern Conference has recognized freshman Paige Zaziski with a weekly honor, as her performance at last Friday’s tri-meet earned her the SEC Co-Freshman of the Week award.
Zaziski becomes just the second Arkansas gymnast in program history to win multiple SEC Freshman of the Week awards, as she joins former Razorback All-American, and current assistant coach, Jaime Pisani, who won the award twice back during the 2009 season. Zaziski shares this week’s honor with Kennedy Baker of Florida.
The freshman put on a fabulous display against Illinois State and Southeast Missouri last Friday, as she posted a 9.8 or better in three of the four events, placed second in the vault, uneven bars and all-around and set a new career-best on the floor. Her score of 9.850 on the vault gave Zaziski her fifth 9.8-plus score in the event this season. She would then post back-to-back 9.800’s on the uneven bars and the balance beam, before concluding her night with a career-high 9.775 on the floor exercise.
Zaziski totaled a score of 39.225 to place second in the all-around behind teammate Amanda Wellick. It was the third-straight 39-plus score in the all-around for the Chesterfield Township, Michigan native, as her 39.225 was tied with Baker for the highest all-around mark in the conference this week for a freshman.
Tuesday’s award adds to an already impressive freshman campaign for Zaziski, as she has been a mainstay in the Razorback lineup in all four events. The freshman’s score has counted on 19 of her 24 routines, she has captured her first two career event titles this season – uneven bars, balance beam; vs. No. 2 Florida – and is currently ranked 33rd nationally on the uneven bars with an average score off 9.846.
The No. 14-ranked Razorbacks return to SEC action this Friday, Feb. 21, as they travel to the Bluegrass State for a Top-25 matchup against the No. 24 Kentucky Wildcats. Events from Memorial Coliseum are set to begin at 6 p.m.
For more information on the Arkansas women’s gymnastics team, follow @RazorbackGym on Twitter.
