2008 Woodie Awards
Gym 'Backs earn NCAA Regional berth
Lady'back Notebook
Harold McIlvain II
Issue date: 4/2/08 Section: Sports
The No. 11 Arkansas Gym'Backs' season isn't over, as they received an invite Monday to Minnesota for the North Central Regional Saturday, April 12.
The Gym'Backs will look to advance to the NCAA Championship for the second consecutive year, after hosting the South Central Regional and upsetting No. 9 UCLA last year.
"We're excited to go to Minnesota," Arkansas co-head coach Renee Cook said. "It's great to go to a different place and see some different teams. Our goal is to finish as one of the top two teams and get back to the NCAA Championships. We know that to reach that goal, we have to focus on the goals we've had all season - hit our routines and leave it all out on the floor."
Cook thought Minnesota was a possibility, but with a shakeup in rankings it was a little unsure on selection day, she said.
"For the last few weeks, that is were we thought we were headed, but this past weekend quite a few teams moved around, and we were not quite sure," Cook said. "The NCAA had a few options were to send teams, but they ended up sending us to Minnesota. It will be a great trip for us."
This is the fifth NCAA Regional invite in six seasons of existence for the Arkansas gymnastics program.
The Gym'Backs enter the regional as the second seed behind nationally-ranked No. 2 Utah. Arizona, Iowa, Minnesota and Southern Utah will also compete at the meet.
The Gym'Backs are no stranger to the venue as they began the 2005 season on the road against Minnesota where the team picked up a win.
"Minnesota is a great venue for us," Cook said. "Some of the team was there in 2005, and we really enjoyed our trip there."
Roberts leaves basketball team
Lady'Back basketball head coach Tom Collen announced Tuesday sophomore reserve Kendra Roberts is leaving the team.
"We wish Kendra well," Collen said. "She represented the Lady'Backs in a first-class fashion for the past two years."
Roberts, a former Fort Smith Northside guard, played in 23 games this season, averaging 1.1 points and 0.8 rebounds. She also played in 14 games as a freshman.
Roberts is the second Lady'Back to leave the team in the last year. Highly-recruited newcomer Whitney Zachariason left the team prior to the season because of personal reasons.
The Gym'Backs will look to advance to the NCAA Championship for the second consecutive year, after hosting the South Central Regional and upsetting No. 9 UCLA last year.
"We're excited to go to Minnesota," Arkansas co-head coach Renee Cook said. "It's great to go to a different place and see some different teams. Our goal is to finish as one of the top two teams and get back to the NCAA Championships. We know that to reach that goal, we have to focus on the goals we've had all season - hit our routines and leave it all out on the floor."
Cook thought Minnesota was a possibility, but with a shakeup in rankings it was a little unsure on selection day, she said.
"For the last few weeks, that is were we thought we were headed, but this past weekend quite a few teams moved around, and we were not quite sure," Cook said. "The NCAA had a few options were to send teams, but they ended up sending us to Minnesota. It will be a great trip for us."
This is the fifth NCAA Regional invite in six seasons of existence for the Arkansas gymnastics program.
The Gym'Backs enter the regional as the second seed behind nationally-ranked No. 2 Utah. Arizona, Iowa, Minnesota and Southern Utah will also compete at the meet.
The Gym'Backs are no stranger to the venue as they began the 2005 season on the road against Minnesota where the team picked up a win.
"Minnesota is a great venue for us," Cook said. "Some of the team was there in 2005, and we really enjoyed our trip there."
Roberts leaves basketball team
Lady'Back basketball head coach Tom Collen announced Tuesday sophomore reserve Kendra Roberts is leaving the team.
"We wish Kendra well," Collen said. "She represented the Lady'Backs in a first-class fashion for the past two years."
Roberts, a former Fort Smith Northside guard, played in 23 games this season, averaging 1.1 points and 0.8 rebounds. She also played in 14 games as a freshman.
Roberts is the second Lady'Back to leave the team in the last year. Highly-recruited newcomer Whitney Zachariason left the team prior to the season because of personal reasons.
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