Arkansas Razorbacks gymnastics

The Arkansas Razorbacks gymnastics team represents the University of Arkansas and competes in the Southeastern Conference (SEC).[2] The team was founded in 2003 and is currently coached by Jordyn Wieber,[3] after she assumed the position in April 2019.[4]

Arkansas Razorbacks gymnastics
Arkansas Razorbacks logo
Founded2003
UniversityUniversity of Arkansas
Head coachJordyn Wieber (5th season)
ConferenceSEC
LocationFayetteville, Arkansas
Home arenaBarnhill Arena (Capacity: 10,000)
NicknameGym'Backs
ColorsCardinal and white[1]
   
Super Six appearances
2009, 2012
NCAA Regional championships
2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2018, 2021, 2024
NCAA Tournament appearances
2024

History

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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

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Super Six Appearances

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Arkansas Razorbacks Super Six Appearances
Year Finish
2009 5th
2012 6th

Individual champions

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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

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Name Height Year Hometown
Chandler Buntin 5-5 SO Collierville, TN
Grace Drexler FR Stratford, WI
Reese Drotar 5-8 JR Los Gatos, CA
Dakota Essenpries 5-2 SO Adrian, MO
Kalyxta Gamiao 4-10 SR Honolulu, HI
Maddie Jones 5-2 SR Charlotte, NC
Hailey Klein 5-2 SO Lake Forest, IL
Ja'Leigh Lang FR East Palo Alto, CA
Priscilla Park 5-3 SO Atlanta, GA
Frankie Price 5-0 R-JR Coppell, TX
Joscelyn Roberson 4-8 FR Texarkana, TX
Jensen Scalzo 5-4 GR Parkland, FL
Leah Smith 5-1 SR Spring, TX
Sadie Smith FR Gig Harbor, WA
Cally Swaney 5-2 JR Gastonia, NC
Cami Weaver 5-1 R-JR Pelham, AL
Julianna Weeks FR Charlotte, NC
Lauren Williams 5-3 JR Rogers, AR

Coaches

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Head coaches

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Name Years Record Win %
Mark Cook 2003 – 2019
Jordyn Wieber 2020 – present

Coaches for the current season

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Name Position
Jordyn Wieber Head coach [13]
Chris Brooks Assistant coach [14]
Kyla Ross Assistant coach [15]
Catelyn Branson Assistant Coach [16]

Past Olympians

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References

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  1. ^ "Color Palette & Fonts". Arkansas Razorbacks Brand Style Guide (PDF). June 16, 2021. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
  2. ^ "University of Arkansas - Latest Headlines, Scores, and Schedules". www.secsports.com. Retrieved 2019-04-26.
  3. ^ "Gymnastics Record Book" (PDF). Retrieved 2019-04-26.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ "Mark Cook". Arkansas Razorbacks. 2015-04-28. Retrieved 2019-04-27.
  6. ^ "2009 National Championship Record Book" (PDF). Retrieved 2019-04-27.
  7. ^ "2012 National Championship Record Book" (PDF). Retrieved 2019-04-27.
  8. ^ "Built From Scratch: By Mark Cook". Arkansas Razorbacks. 2019-04-09. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ "Standings". roadtonationals.com. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  11. ^ "Standings". roadtonationals.com. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  12. ^ Minehart, Emily (2024-04-18). "Projected 2024 NCAA Nationals All-Americans". College Gym News. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
  13. ^ "Olympic gold medalist Jordyn Wieber named Arkansas gymnastics coach". Arkansas Online. 2019-04-24. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  14. ^ "Chris Brooks". Arkansas Razorbacks. 2019-05-17. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  15. ^ "Kyla Ross Promoted To Gymnastics Assistant Coach". Arkansas Razorbacks. July 13, 2022.
  16. ^ "Arkansas Gymnastics Welcomes Catelyn Branson Back to Coaching Staff". Arkansas Razorbacks. May 28, 2024.