The Arkansas Razorbacks gymnastics team represents the University of Arkansas and competes in the SEC Conference.[2] The team was founded in 2003 and is currently coached by Jordyn Wieber,[3] after she assumed the position in April 2019.[4]
History
The gymnastics team was founded in 2003 by Mark Cook, who started building the team in 2001.[5] Cook had previously coached the Stanford gymnastics and UCLA Bruins teams, as the head coach and assistant coach respectively. The first team competed in the 2003, with an all-freshman roster, and finished the regular season ranked 41st.
The team made their first appearance at the NCAA National Championship finals ('Super Six') in 2009, finishing in 5th place with a score of 196.475 - their best placement to date.[6] The Razorbacks made their second appearance in 2012, finishing in 6th place with a score of 196.300.[7]
The retirement of Mark Cook as head coach was announced on April 9, 2019.[8] The new head coach for the 2019-2020 season was announced to be the 2011 World Champion Jordyn Wieber on April 24 - the first Olympic champion to be the head coach of an NCAA gymnastics team.[9] Wieber was previously a volunteer assistant coach at UCLA, at which she coached floor, which UCLA finished the 2018 and 2019 regular seasons ranked No. 1 in the country.[10][11]
In 2024, the Razorbacks qualified to the national championships, finishing in 7th place; Reese Drotar was awarded first-team All-American honours on the uneven bars, and Leah Smith earned second team All-American honours on vault.[12]
Championships
Super Six Appearances
| Arkansas Razorbacks Super Six Appearances | |
| Year | Finish |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 5th |
| 2012 | 6th |
Individual champions
| NCAA: Arkansas Individual Champions | ||
| Name | Year | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Katherine Grable | 2014 | VT |
| Katherine Grable | 2014 | FX |
| SEC: Arkansas Individual Champions | ||
| Name | Year | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Casey Jo Magee | 2009 | BB |
| Jaime Pisani | 2012 | FX |
Current roster
| Name | Height | Year | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chandler Buntin | 5-5- | FR | Collierville, TN |
| Reese Drotar | 5-8 | SO | Los Gatos, CA |
| Dakota Essenpries | 5-2 | FR | Adrian, MO |
| Kalyxta Gamiao | 4-10 | JR | Honolulu, HI |
| Maddie Jones | 5-2 | JR | Charlotte, NC |
| Emma Kelley | 5-2 | SR | Richmond, TX |
| Hailey Klein | 5-2 | FR | Lake Forest, IL |
| Sirena Linton | 5-3 | GS | South Phoenix, AZ |
| Priscilla Park | 5-3 | FR | Atlanta, GA |
| Jaime Pratt | 5-2 | SO | Abbotstown, PA |
| Frankie Price | 5-0 | R-SO | Coppell, TX |
| Jensen Scalzo | 5-4 | SR | Parkland, FL |
| Makenzie Sedlacek | 5-4 | JR | West Chicago, IL |
| Leah Smith | 5-1 | JR | Spring, TX |
| Cally Swaney | 5-2 | SO | Gastonia, NC |
| Cami Weaver | 5-1 | R-SO | Pelham, AL |
| Lauren Williams | 5-3 | SO | Rogers, AR |
Future recruits
2024–25
- Joscelyn Roberson, World Champions Centre
- Grace Drexler, Twin City Twisters
- Ja’Leigh Lang, San Mateo Gymnastics
- Sadie Smith, Ascend Gymnastics
- Julianna Weeks, Everest Gymnastics
Coaches
Head coaches
| Name | Years | Record | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Cook | 2003 – 2019 | ||
| Jordyn Wieber | 2020 – present |
Coaches for the current season
| Name | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| Jordyn Wieber | Head coach | [13] |
| Chris Brooks | Assistant coach | [14] |
| Kyla Ross | Assistant coach | [15] |
| Kyla Bryant | Assistant Coach |
References
- ^ "Color Palette & Fonts". Arkansas Razorbacks Brand Style Guide (PDF). June 16, 2021. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
- ^ "University of Arkansas - Latest Headlines, Scores, and Schedules". www.secsports.com. Retrieved 2019-04-26.
- ^ "Gymnastics Record Book" (PDF). Retrieved 2019-04-26.
- ^ "At Age 23, Jordyn Wieber Takes Over As Arkansas Women's Gymnastics Coach". Team USA. Archived from the original on April 25, 2019. Retrieved 2019-04-26.
- ^ "Mark Cook". Arkansas Razorbacks. 2015-04-28. Retrieved 2019-04-27.
- ^ "2009 National Championship Record Book" (PDF). Retrieved 2019-04-27.
- ^ "2012 National Championship Record Book" (PDF). Retrieved 2019-04-27.
- ^ "Built From Scratch: By Mark Cook". Arkansas Razorbacks. 2019-04-09. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
- ^ "At Age 23, Jordyn Wieber Takes Over As Arkansas Women's Gymnastics Coach". Team USA. Archived from the original on April 25, 2019. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
- ^ "Standings". roadtonationals.com. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
- ^ "Standings". roadtonationals.com. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
- ^ Minehart, Emily (2024-04-18). "Projected 2024 NCAA Nationals All-Americans". College Gym News. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
- ^ "Olympic gold medalist Jordyn Wieber named Arkansas gymnastics coach". Arkansas Online. 2019-04-24. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
- ^ "Chris Brooks". Arkansas Razorbacks. 2019-05-17. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
- ^ "Kyla Ross Promoted To Gymnastics Assistant Coach". Arkansas Razorbacks. July 13, 2022.