Gymbacks Slip In OKC, Show Roster Depth and Talent
The Arkansas gymnastics team kicked off the 2025 season, in Oklahoma City, on Saturday, at the Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad. The two-day event would conclude with the Razorbacks, Kentucky Wildcats, Ohio State Buckeyes, and UCLA Bruins teams competing on ESPN2 for the nation to see. In the end, the Gymbacks would finish the night with a 4th place team score of 195.875 after competing in the four rotation meet.
We will look back at each routine for Arkansas and how each gymnast fared on the season’s debut. With the season fresh and the routines for the gymnasts still maturing the opener showed great promise.
How Did The Gymbacks Perform?
Vault
In the opening rotation for the Razorbacks, Vault, we got a glimpse of the depth of this roster. As freshman Jocelyn Roberson led the Gymbacks with a 9.875 in the event we saw others assist in their routine. In the rotation, Arkansas had Dakota Essenpries score of 9.850, Leah Smith scored 9.825, senior Cami Weaver with a 9.750, Priscilla Park scored a 9.675, and Frankie Price with a team-low score, which was dropped, of 9.600. In the end, the Razorbacks scored a 48.975 to close the opening rotation.
Uneven Bars
Next on the rotations we come to the Uneven Bars. Arkansas had a trio of high scores as we saw Roberson shine in her debut as she, along with Kaitlyn {Katty} Ewald, Graduate transfer, from Illinois, and senior Maddie Jones all scored a 9.825. Following this trio, the Gymbacks shined as a graduate, from Alabama, Mati Waligora scored a 9.800, sophomore Priscilla Park scored 9.750 and junior Cally Swaney scored a dropped 9.725 in the rotation. In the end, Arkansas finished the rotation with a team score of 49.025.
Balance Beam
At the halfway point of the meet, the Razorbacks were within striking distance of their foes on the floor. With a strong performance on the Balance Beam rotation, the Gymbacks could rut up the separation in scores. With Gamiao, Jones, and Roberson, scoring a 9,825, and Park a 9.875, Arkansas was poised to make their push. This is when we saw this slip, literally, by sophomore Hailey Klein, who scored a 9.050, and Swaney both fell in their routines. Swaney scored a 9.025 which was dropped as the team’s low score. To close the event Roberson would shine, yes, this is a pattern, in her debut as she tied the team high in the event. Arkansas’ slips proved to be costly as they completed the event with a 48.400 score.
Floor
There is an old saying “You save the best for last” and this is the mindset when the Gymbacks close a meet on the Floor routine. In what has become a staple of any Jordyn Weiber, head coach of the Razorbacks, program the floor is where this team shines and is fully themselves. Weiber sent a home run gauntlet of gymnasts as Gamiao scored a 9.875 to ignite the team followed by Jones, Smith, and Williams all with a 9.875. This would leave the freshman, Roberson, and Price to finish the event. In the end, these two proved why this is a national power in the rotation as we saw Roberson score a 9.950 and Price a 9.900 as the duo had the Arkansas faithful in attendance on its feet. Roberson also finished her debut with an all-around score of 39.475 which was tied for highest of the meet. Arkansas finished with a 49.475 in the event despite loads of energy and exciting moments that we are just seeing for the first time.
Final Analysis
As we close, Arkansas proved on Saturday night the roster talent and performances are in place for another special season in Fayetteville. Despite slipping up in the Quad, Arkansas competed in each event and has much to be confident as they head to the Plains of Auburn, Alabama, to tangle with the Auburn Tigers on January 17th. In the meantime, the deep and talented roster, and staff, will continue to remain steadfast in their higher belief and confidence in their abilities to get better week to week.
