By Harold McIlvain II

Traveler assistant sports editor Harold McIlvain II sat down with senior Casey Jo Magee, a two-time All-American and won the Southeastern Conference championship on beam last year, and discussed how the No. 7 Arkansas Razorback gymnastic team is progressing. Magee has won more than 40 event titles in her career at Arkansas.

The team was able to put together season-best performances on vault, beam and floor while putting together a season-high 196.750 last week against Kentucky. Was it nice to put everything together like that?

We just wanted to come out and perform like we have been in the gym. In the last couple of intra-quads meets, we have been doing very well. We just wanted to go out there and show what we could do – and we did it. We just wanted to go out there and have fun.

Coach Rene Cook said it wasn’t a surprise at all to see the score jump up so much from a couple weeks. Is the team at a pretty good spot in the season?

We feel like we are improving. Our freshmen were the most calm as they have been all season, and they are important to us improving. I think it was nice for us to get back home. It really helped to get back and get a nice score here.

With a 196 score last week, do you think the team could be able to get into the 197 range?

I do see that potential. The past meets have been a big stepping stone for us right now. We can see the improvement and that is definitely a possibility.

Being from Eugene, Ore., how was the transition from there to a southern state like Arkansas?

It was different. The hardest part was moving away from my friends and family. I didn’t know anyone expect for the girls on the team. But I really like Fayetteville because it reminds me of my hometown. People are so nice and there are trees just like at home. People really support the Razorbacks here, too.

It seems as if fans really enjoy going to Razorback gym meets. What do you think makes the events at Barnhill Arena so entertaining and unique?

The fans really enjoy having a team go out there and really have fun while competing. That’s something people commented on when we were at the Super Six competition. We really like to have fun out there and the fans seem to notice and cheer us on.

What’s your favorite pre-game meal?

We usually get sandwiches, so it is probably a turkey sandwich.