Spring Break
Peacock has shined bright throughout career
Harold McIlvain II
Issue date: 2/6/08 Section: Sports
It didn't take senior Emily Peacock long to make an impact on the Arkansas gymnastic program, whether that be on or off the floor.
Peacock, a highly recruited athlete from San Antonio, stepped up for the Gym'Backs as a freshman and has never looked back as a consistent leader on the court over the past four years.
"Her freshman year was like a preview for her entire collegiate career," Arkansas co-head coach Mark Cook said. "She has been a great competitor. She exhibits a lot of enthusiasm with her great gymnastic ability along with a great personality, and she has competed that way going into her fourth year. She has been a joy to have on this team.
"Emily has probably had just two routines in her four years here were she missed a routine. She is one of the more consistent athletes that I've ever coached. She really embraces competition; she just loves it."
Peacock took little time to get adjusted to collegiate gymnastics as she was a three-event starter as a freshman. She dazzled in her first performance as she scored a 9.75 on bars, a 9.85 on beam and a 9.625 on floor, giving coaches and fans a glimpse of what was to come.
She took her talent to another level in her sophomore year as she set the school record with a 9.950 on bars, erasing one of the earliest records set in the program.
She then continued to impact the Gym'Backs in her junior season as she competed on bars, beam and floor in all 14 meets last year. Peacock stepped up for the Gym'Backs when they needed her most as she delivered key performances throughout the season.
Peacock recorded a career high 9.90 on beam against No. 23 Arizona State, helping the Gym'Backs pull away with a late season win. She then went on to win the team title in a win over Kentucky, but she was not done for the season as she posted a season best 9.90 on the floor against No. 2 Georgia.
"When given the opportunity to step up for her team, Emily always seems to do so," Cook said. "She rises to the occasion like she did against Penn State a couple of weeks ago. It was down to the wire, and she was last up for us on the floor and I knew she was going to hit it. She hit it, and I knew she would because she does what ever it takes for us to win a meet."
Peacock, a highly recruited athlete from San Antonio, stepped up for the Gym'Backs as a freshman and has never looked back as a consistent leader on the court over the past four years.
"Her freshman year was like a preview for her entire collegiate career," Arkansas co-head coach Mark Cook said. "She has been a great competitor. She exhibits a lot of enthusiasm with her great gymnastic ability along with a great personality, and she has competed that way going into her fourth year. She has been a joy to have on this team.
"Emily has probably had just two routines in her four years here were she missed a routine. She is one of the more consistent athletes that I've ever coached. She really embraces competition; she just loves it."
Peacock took little time to get adjusted to collegiate gymnastics as she was a three-event starter as a freshman. She dazzled in her first performance as she scored a 9.75 on bars, a 9.85 on beam and a 9.625 on floor, giving coaches and fans a glimpse of what was to come.
She took her talent to another level in her sophomore year as she set the school record with a 9.950 on bars, erasing one of the earliest records set in the program.
She then continued to impact the Gym'Backs in her junior season as she competed on bars, beam and floor in all 14 meets last year. Peacock stepped up for the Gym'Backs when they needed her most as she delivered key performances throughout the season.
Peacock recorded a career high 9.90 on beam against No. 23 Arizona State, helping the Gym'Backs pull away with a late season win. She then went on to win the team title in a win over Kentucky, but she was not done for the season as she posted a season best 9.90 on the floor against No. 2 Georgia.
"When given the opportunity to step up for her team, Emily always seems to do so," Cook said. "She rises to the occasion like she did against Penn State a couple of weeks ago. It was down to the wire, and she was last up for us on the floor and I knew she was going to hit it. She hit it, and I knew she would because she does what ever it takes for us to win a meet."
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