Photo Courtesy: UA Athletics (Walt Beazley)
MINNIEAPOLIS, Minn. (Univ. of Ark.) - Junior All-American Katherine Grable takes a pair of titles as the No. 24 University of Arkansas gymnastics team (6-6-1, 1-4-1 SEC) scored a 196.350, the team's best road score of the season as they finish second in a quad meet at the University of Minnesota, 196.450; Centenary, 190.525 and Nebraska, 196.100.
Grable finished tied for first in the all-around competition as well as on the beam. Shelby Salmon finished second on the bars followed by fellow Razorback Amy Borsellino who finished third. Grable would add a second place finish on the vault and a third place finish on the floor as well.
"Every quarter-tenth matters," co-head coach René Lyst said. "Scoring I thought was definitely tight, but I am very pleased with the way our team competed tonight. They competed the way you want them to compete in a pressure situation, which is the way you want them to do every meet."
In rotation one, the Razorbacks started on the beam with a 48.850. Grable led the way with a 9.90 for the meet followed by senior Kelci Lewis with a 9.850. After the rotation the Razorbacks would be in third place.
Minnesota would score a 49.250 on the vault, Centenary tallied a 48.000 on the floor and Nebraska picked up a 49.250 on bars in rotation one.
On the floor, the Razorbacks would tumble their way to second place after two rotations with a 49.100. Grable paced the Razorbacks with a 9.875 followed by Borsellino with a 9.825. Lewis, Sydnie Dillard and Bailee Zumwalde each added a 9.80 for the event as well.
Minnesota scored a 48.950 on the bars to give them a total of 98.200 halfway through the meet. Centenary added a 47.425 on the floor for a total of 95.425 followed by Nebraska with a 48.450 on the beam for a 97.650 at the end of the second rotation.
On the vault, the Razorbacks recorded 49.150 led by Grable with a 9.90 he second 9.90 of the meet. Heather Elswick and Lewis would each add a 9.85 for the event, followed by Borsellino and Zumwalde whom each had a score 9.775.
Minnesota scored a 49.100 on the beam in rotation three, followed by Centenary with a 47.500 on the bars and Nebraska with a 49.075 on the bars. The Razorbacks would maintain their position in second place after three rotations.
On the bars, the Razorbacks would match their best rotation of the season with a 49.250. Salmon lead the way with a 9.90, followed by freshman Erin Freier with a 9.85 and senior Jordan Salsberg with a 9.825. All-arounders Borsellino and Grable added a 9.875 and a 9.800 respectively.
"To start out on the beam was good for us," Lyst said. "We know that starting on the beam is a real possibility for us at NCAA Regionals, and that was really big for our team to respond the way that they did. The team did great by continuing to build after the first rotation and this definitely boosts our confidence for the future."
The Razorbacks will return to competition next Sunday, March 17 in Los Angeles, Calif., against UCLA.