Photo courtesy of Arkansas athletics
Authored by Sydney
On Friday night, No. 15 Arkansas opened its SEC schedule by hosting No. 8 Auburn and 2020 Olympic all-around champion, Sunisa Lee.
The Razorbacks have a host of Olympic gold medalists on their staff with third-year head coach Jordyn Wieber and volunteer assistant Kyla Ross. Both were members of Team USA in 2012, winning gold.
Wieber is the first Olympic gold medalist to become a head coach in college gymnastics. Lee is the first all-around Olympic gold medalist to compete in college.
This was the first gymnastics meet held at Bud Walton Arena with a record-breaking crowd of 10,345 people in attendance. Will we see more gymnastics meets in Bud Walton rather than Barnhill Arena? With great performances and a star-studded coaching staff, we just might.
The “Gymbacks” scored 49 or more in every event and beat Auburn on bars, posting a 49.550 team score. Maggie O’Hara had an incredible bar routine, scoring a 9.950 and tying Lee, the Auburn freshman. Arkansas received its first 9.900 on vault of the season with senior Amanda Elswick and finished the rotation with a 49.050 score.
Senior Kennedy Hambrick stuck her beam landing and scored a 9.950. Arkansas ended beam with a 49.300 and had the lead after the third rotation. Senior Savannah Pennese broke her personal record with a stellar 9.875 on floor. The Gymbacks scored 49.300 on floor and ended the meet with 197.200, losing to the Tigers by a mere .050.
This meet brought a lot of attention to Arkansas as it continues an exciting season. Next week, the Razorbacks hit the road and travel to Baton Rouge to face No. 6 LSU.
This meet takes place on Friday, Jan. 21 at 8 p.m. ET. It will air on SEC Network.