Arkansas gymnastics set to host NCAA Regional
Harold McIlvain II
Issue date: 4/3/09 Section: Sports
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After a program-best performance at the Southeastern Conference Championship, the No. 10 Arkansas Razorback gymnastics team will host the NCAA South Central Regional at 6 p.m. Saturday at Barnhill Arena.
With a week off from competition last week, Arkansas co-head coach Rene Cook said the Razorbacks have been eager to compete in the meet the team has looked forward to all year.
"We've been trying to pace the excitement," Cook said. "But they are confident and prepared. I think we'll see an energized and enthusiastic yet determined team."
Cook said the team set a goal at the start of the year to make the Super Six championship round. But Arkansas cannot advance without a top two finish at the regional meet.
"This is what we have worked so hard for," Cook said. "Without getting to the national championship, we can't move forward as a team or obtain any individual goals if we are not at the national championship."
Arkansas is hosting the event for the second time in program history and will hope to benefit from the home crowd, who has helped the team throughout the year, Cook said.
"I feel like the crowd at home has been like a sixth man in basketball," Cook said. "They've helped us achieve the unthinkable, most people would say, in our sport by beating Florida, Alabama and being right there with Georgia. Those are big accomplishments for any program."
After traveling to Minneapolis, Minn., last year for the regional meet, Cook said competing at home will have plenty of positives.
"[Being at home] is a little more relaxing in some ways," Cook said. "After the course of a couple seasons, Barnhill seems to be a fairly intimidating place for teams to come in and compete. We are hoping to use that to our advantage."
Cook said it would be a new experience for the other teams who are traveling to the event. The competition - Arizona State, Southern Utah, No. 25 Arizona, No. 16 Michigan and No. 4 Stanford - have never faced the Razorbacks at Barnhill.
"This is our gym," Cook said. "With the energy from the fans, we are looking forward to using that to get in the top two, if not win the meet. Having our fans - especially the students, who are loud and excited - helps our team have extra energy when we are out there."
Although the competition is tough, Arkansas was excited to see the level of talent heading to the regional, Cook said.
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