Gymbacks begin NCAA postseason run Thursday with regional semifinal

The 16-seeded Arkansas Razorbacks will begin their postseason journey on Thursday in the regional semifinal of the NCAA Gymnastics Championships at Penn State.

Arkansas is set to take on No. 1 LSU, No. 17 Michigan and No. 31 Maryland on Thursday in the second semifinal session of the day in State College. The top two teams, along with the top two of the early session of No. 8 Michigan State, No. 9 Kentucky, No. 25 Ohio State and No. 28 Penn State, will advance to the regional final on Saturday, April 5.

This weekend is the 21st straight regional selection for the Arkansas gymnastics program and fifth straight for head coach Jordyn Wieber. In Wieber’s tenure, the Gymbacks have reached the regional final in three of five tries, including the 2024 Fayetteville regional final, where Arkansas scored a program postseason high of 197.825 and punched its ticket to the NCAA Championships as a team for the first time in six years.

The Gymbacks have a 1-3 record against opponents in the regional field that they’ve seen this season, with two losses to Kentucky and one to Ohio State. Arkansas did take down the defending national champions and then-No. 2 team LSU early in the regular season, 196.875-196.600.

Of the other early session competitors, the Gymbacks are 2-1 all-time against Michigan State and 2-2 against Penn State. In the evening session, Arkansas is 1-6 against Michigan, its lone win coming in 2009, and 3-0 against Maryland.

The Razorbacks have posted an average score of 197.146 in regional competition dating back to 2021 and have scored 197+ in four of seven regional contests. They have finished no lower than fifth in a regional in that time and have had one individual regional co-champion, Frankie Price on floor in 2023.

Thursday’s first semifinal with Michigan State, Kentucky, Ohio State and Penn State is set for noon CT. The Gymbacks will get going, starting on vault, at 6 p.m. Saturday’s regional final is slated for 5 p.m., with the top two teams looking to secure a place at the NCAA Championships in Fort Worth April 17-19.

All sessions of regionals will be streamed live on ESPN+.

Numbers to Know:

No. 1 LSU (NQS and ranking | Top ind. NQS)

VT: 49.540, 1st | Kailin Chio, 9.955

UB: 49.535, 2nd | Konnor McClain, 9.925

BB: 49.495, 5th | Kailin Chio, 9.935

FX: 49.605, 3rd | Haleigh Bryant, 9.945

AA: 198.115, 1st | Kailin Chio, 39.670

No. 17 Michigan

VT: 49.140, 20th | Jenna Mulligan, 9.860

UB: 49.255, 18th | Carly Bauman, 9.900

BB: 49.310, 15th | Carly Bauman, 9.895

FX: 49.355, 17th | Carly Bauman, 9.915

AA: 196.945, 17th | N/A

No. 31 Maryland

VT: 49.035, 26th | Natalie Martin, 9.890

UB: 49.185, 25th | Sierra Kondo, 9.870

BB: 48.990, 38th | Maddie Komoroski, 9.895

FX: 49.175, 31st | Alexa Rothenbuescher, 9.860

AA: 196.030, 31st | Alexa Rothenbuescher, 38.985

No. 16 Arkansas

VT: 49.225, 15th | Ja’Leigh Lang/Joscelyn Roberson, 9.865

UB: 49.265, T-16th | Maddie Jones, 9.905

BB: 49.315, 14th | Joscelyn Roberson, 9.915

FX: 49.470, 9th | Joscelyn Roberson, 9.925

AA: 197.055, 16th | Joscelyn Roberson, 39.450