Razorbacks shoot for a quicker start

FAYETTEVILLE — The No. 10 University of Arkansas gymnastics team would like to carry its success from a meet against Arizona last year into today’s competition in Tucson, Ariz.

The Razorbacks powered its way to a 197.275 score — the best in school history at the time — on March 2 in a victory over the Wildcats by 1.15 points.

No. 18 Arizona will be trying to avenge the dual-meet loss in nonconference action at 4 p.m. Central today at the McKale Center on the Arizona campus.

The Razorbacks got off to a slow start last week with consecutive sub-49.0 scores on the vault, uneven bars and balance beam to fall way behind Oklahoma, which posted an NCAA-record season-opening score of 198.05 and moved to No. 1 in the nation.

But Arkansas finished strong with a 49.175 on the floor exercise, anchored by sophomore Sophia Carter’s 9.95 which tied for the top score in the nation on that event. Carter’s score tied for the third-best in Arkansas history. Sophomore Sarah Shaffer scored 9.9 on the floor to tie for the 11th best routine in the nation.

“We have some really good floor routines,” Arkansas Coach Mark Cook said. “We have more difficulty to go on the floor. We’ll make that event even better.

“We have harder vaults coming up, too. We just have to get cleaner on bars and have less wobbles on beam.”

Arizona is coming off a second-place finish in a quad meet at Central Michigan with a 194.75. The Wildcats achieved eight career-high scores and tied for another, led by all-arounder Maddi Leydin, who won the meet with a 39.05.

Arkansas all-arounders Shaffer and junior Jessica Yamzon posted matching 39.15 scores against Oklahoma. Junior Michaela Burton, competing in her first all-around, had a 37.525 that was weighed down by a poor bars score (8.2) based on an issue with her grip.

Ace freshman signee Amanda Elswick will miss a second consecutive meet while rehabbing from injury. The sister of former Razorbacks standout Heather Elswick, she is expected to make her college debut within a few weeks.

The Razorbacks are competing in their first of four consecutive road meets before returning to Barnhill Arena on Feb. 8 against No. 18 Alabama.