Gymbacks Falls To Auburn Despite Changes In Lineups
The #17 ranked Gymbacks hit the road, to Auburn, Alabama to tangle with the #12 ranked Auburn Tigers as SEC competition starts. In the end, Arkansas would fall to 0-4 on the season after a 196.700 – 196.250 team score. We will analyze the rotations from a team and individual score, look at some performances that stood out, and look ahead at what is next on the season slate.
What Happened In Auburn?
As the road competitor, Arkansas would compete in the Uneven Bars, Vault, Floor, and Beam in the four-rotation dual.
Uneven Bars
We start with the bars as Katelyn Ewald led the Gymbacks with a 9.825 in the event. Close behind was Priscilla Park and Mati Waligora who scored 9.800. Behind this duo, we saw Ja’Leigh Lang, who was a last-minute change following warmups, step in for Cally Swaney and score a 9.775. To close out the team scores we saw Maddie Jones, with a 9.725, and Joscelyn Roberson score a 9.675 to bring the team score to 48.925 after the first rotation.
Vault
Next in the meet, we saw the Gymbacks hit the Vault. In this event, we saw a group of Razorbacks score a 9.825 as Lang, Cami Weaver, Dakota Essenpries, and Roberson all scored by the judges the same. Following them, we saw Leah Smith, who was also an abrupt change in the lineup, scoring a 9.775, along with Frankie Price, with a 9.700, following a step forward in her landing. With this, Arkansas scored a 49.075 at the halfway point of the meet.
FX {Floor}
As we had reached halfway in the night, it was time for the third rotation as Arkansas would look to their floor routine to attempt to make some ground up on the Tigers. In the event, we saw Arkansas, led by 9.850 scores from Roberson and Price, again show why this team is one to watch. Along with the duo, Hailey Klein had her fellow teammates, and coaches, erupting as she scored a 9.800. The event would be jumpstarted as Kalyxta Gamiao scored a 9.775 after another strong performance on the mat. Maddie Jones and Smith both scored a -.750 to bring the final team score to 49.025 as we reached the final rotation.
Beam
The final rotation is where Arkansas would slip in Oklahoma City last weekend. In Auburn, this would not be the case as the Gymbacks showed great poise in the event. Roberson led the team with a 9.925 in a performance that stunned many in attendance. Behind Roberson, was Gamiao, with a 9.850, with another stellar start for Arkansas with her performance. Jones and Park both scored a 9.825 as Arkansas proved that last week was behind them in the event. Weaver, who was, yet again, another change in warmups, scored a 9.775 but her routine was stellar, especially considering she was not in the original lineup.
Following all routines, the Gymbacks scored a team score of 49.225 to close the night.
It is also worth noting that Roberson, with a 39.275, would finish 2nd in the all-around competition in her second collegiate event.
Changes Happen
We spoke, in the overlay of the event, of a few changes to the lineup for Arkansas and while these were unexpected it did not seem to affect the team. From the opening rotation, we saw Jordyn Weiber, and her staff, with strategic changes and each was proven to be effective. Whether it was Leah Smith, on the uneven bars, or Ja’Leigh Lang on Vault, and finally, as we saw Cami Weaver step in to close the event on beams Friday night showed the nation this roster is deep, talented, and adapts to change.
Each of the mentioned routines assisted the Gymbacks in their rotations and will be something to watch as the season matures.
What Is Next?
Speaking of the season moving on, the turnaround will be swift as the Gymbacks are in Bud Walton Arena on Monday, January, 20th for the Arkansas Tri-Meet. In this one-night event, the Gymbacks will welcome Denver University and Texas Woman’s University, or TWU, to Fayetteville. The tri-meet will begin at 1:45 central time and be streamed on SEC Network Plus. The theme of the meet will be “Be In Bud” and they will commemorate the start of a historic season at The Palace.
