2008 Woodie Awards
Gym'Backs finish sixth at SEC Championship, await regional selection
Harold McIlvain II
Issue date: 3/31/08 Section: Sports
The No. 11 Gym'Backs placed sixth Saturday at the Southeastern Conference championship in Duluth, Ga., posting a score of 194.650.
The team started the meet slowly in the first two rotations in front of a record crowd of 9,022. The Gym'Backs were able to pick up the pace in the remaining rotations but fell short of the 196 mark for the first time in the last three meets in an intense meet, Arkansas co-head coach Rene Cook said.
"This is the most pressure-filled meet of the season, even more than the national championships," Cook said. "The pressure to perform is huge. It's exciting, but the emotions are tough to control. Obviously we extremely disappointed, but we were happy to finish strong on the last two events. We have a lot of work to do before regionals."
The Gym'Back started the meet with a 9.725 from junior Alexandra LaChance on vault, but it was followed by a fall. The team was able to rebound late to post a 48.625 with back-to-back 9.80 performances by sophomores Michelle Stout and Sarah Nagashima.
Coming off a bye round, the Gym'Backs posted a 47.95 on bars as sophomore Casey Jo Magee posted a 9.80. Sophomore Amy DeFilippo started the rotation with a 9.700, but the first performance was again followed by a fall.
The Gym'Backs were able to bounce back with a 9.70 by senior Emily Peacock and a 9.75 from sophomore Michelle Stout, respectively.
Arkansas would then go straight to beam were the team posted a 49.025. Senior Samantha Cortez posted a 9.75 and DeFilippo followed with a 9.775.
The Gym'Backs continued to heat up as Peacock added a 9.85 which was followed by a 9.8 from freshman Stacy Bartlett. Magee then added a 9.85 to help the squad heading into the final rotation.
The Gym'Backs finished on floor by posting their high total of the night, 49.05. Magee and Peacock led the squad with two 9.825 performances. LaChance, Cortez and Stout all posted a score of 9.80 to help secure a sixth place finish over Kentucky, who finished with 194.025.
No. 1 Georgia was able to hold off both No. 3 Florida and No. 6 Alabama in the final rotation as they took the SEC crown with a 197.350 score. Florida and Alabama both finished with 197.325.
At the meet, Arkansas co-head coaches Mark and Rene Cook were honored as SEC co-coaches of the year along with Jeff Thompson of Auburn and Suzanne Yoculan of Georgia.
"It's a huge honor to be recognized by your peers for this award," Rene Cook said. "It definitely makes you feel good for all of the hard work you do."
NCAA Regional selection will be announced late Monday afternoon. Possible locations include Norman, Okla., and Baton Rouge.
The team started the meet slowly in the first two rotations in front of a record crowd of 9,022. The Gym'Backs were able to pick up the pace in the remaining rotations but fell short of the 196 mark for the first time in the last three meets in an intense meet, Arkansas co-head coach Rene Cook said.
"This is the most pressure-filled meet of the season, even more than the national championships," Cook said. "The pressure to perform is huge. It's exciting, but the emotions are tough to control. Obviously we extremely disappointed, but we were happy to finish strong on the last two events. We have a lot of work to do before regionals."
The Gym'Back started the meet with a 9.725 from junior Alexandra LaChance on vault, but it was followed by a fall. The team was able to rebound late to post a 48.625 with back-to-back 9.80 performances by sophomores Michelle Stout and Sarah Nagashima.
Coming off a bye round, the Gym'Backs posted a 47.95 on bars as sophomore Casey Jo Magee posted a 9.80. Sophomore Amy DeFilippo started the rotation with a 9.700, but the first performance was again followed by a fall.
The Gym'Backs were able to bounce back with a 9.70 by senior Emily Peacock and a 9.75 from sophomore Michelle Stout, respectively.
Arkansas would then go straight to beam were the team posted a 49.025. Senior Samantha Cortez posted a 9.75 and DeFilippo followed with a 9.775.
The Gym'Backs continued to heat up as Peacock added a 9.85 which was followed by a 9.8 from freshman Stacy Bartlett. Magee then added a 9.85 to help the squad heading into the final rotation.
The Gym'Backs finished on floor by posting their high total of the night, 49.05. Magee and Peacock led the squad with two 9.825 performances. LaChance, Cortez and Stout all posted a score of 9.80 to help secure a sixth place finish over Kentucky, who finished with 194.025.
No. 1 Georgia was able to hold off both No. 3 Florida and No. 6 Alabama in the final rotation as they took the SEC crown with a 197.350 score. Florida and Alabama both finished with 197.325.
At the meet, Arkansas co-head coaches Mark and Rene Cook were honored as SEC co-coaches of the year along with Jeff Thompson of Auburn and Suzanne Yoculan of Georgia.
"It's a huge honor to be recognized by your peers for this award," Rene Cook said. "It definitely makes you feel good for all of the hard work you do."
NCAA Regional selection will be announced late Monday afternoon. Possible locations include Norman, Okla., and Baton Rouge.
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