Gym’backs Fall to No. 1 Florida
Katherine Grable competes on the uneven bars, Friday against Florida. Grable added a 9.85 to give the Hogs their second season high total of 49.250 on the bars. (Photo by Mary McKay)
The Razorback gymnastics team took on No. 1 Florida Friday in Barnhill Arena and fell short, losing the meet 197.575 to 196.175.
Arkansas struggled on the beam but outscored Florida on the floor and marked their season-high scores on the bars and the vault.
This was the Hogs’ third loss on the season, having already dropped meets to No. 8 Georgia and No. 16 Kentucky. The only win for Arkansas so far this season was in a meet with No. 13 Denver.
Despite the loss, several Razorbacks had season-high scores Friday night. Amy Borsellino, Katherine Grable, Bailee Zumwalde, Kelci Lewis, Shelby Salmon, Erin Freier and Heather Elswick all recorded season highs for Arkansas.
“Our routines were good tonight,” co-head coach Mark Cook said. “Florida has a roster that is loaded with Olympians, but we felt like we had a good shot to come out today and pick up the upset. Overall though it was a great score for us and we will look to build on this as the season goes on.”
In the first rotation, the Hogs scored a 49.15 on the vault and the Gators scored a 49.45 on the bars. Florida continued to lead in the second rotation where Arkansas scored a 49.25 on the bars and Florida scored a 49.40 on the vault.
Both Arkansas’ vault score and their score on the bars marked a new season high in those two events.
The meet was still very close going into the third rotation but that rotation ended in a 48.375 beam score for Arkansas, all but sealing the deal for the Gators. Florida scored a 49.275 on the floor in the third rotation.
The final rotation resulted in a 49.40 on the floor for Arkansas and a 49.45 on the beam for Florida. Floor work was the only area in which Arkansas outperformed No. 1 Florida.
“It was important for us to finish strong on the floor,” Cook said. “We had some errors on the floor in the last couple of meets, but to come back and finish strong after we had some difficulties on beam was huge for us. It was a great confidence builder.”
Next up for the Razorbacks is a meet at No. 17 Auburn Friday.
