Recruit Files: Maddie Jones, Arkansas

Name: Maddie Jones
Club: Southeastern Gymnastics Center
High School Graduation Year: 2021

NCAA Team: Arkansas
Commitment Announcement: Instagram
Social Handles: Twitter | Instagram 

Personal Bests 

Vault	Uneven Bars	Balance Beam	Floor Exercise
9.575	9.800	9.700	9.850

Videos 

Vault	Uneven Bars	Balance Beam	Floor Exercise
2019 Chow’s Challenge	2020 Magical Classic	2019 Region 8 Regionals	2020 Magical Classic

About Maddie

Jones is the 2018 J.O. nationals co-champion on floor (Junior E). That year she also tied for gold on floor at Region 8 regionals and was second on bars (tied) and beam at the North Carolina state meet. In 2019 she was crowned regional all around champion and floor co-champion, as well as state floor champion. She was previously committed to Rutgers.

What She Brings to Arkansas

Vault

• Skill: Yurchenko half on pike off
• Results: third place at the 2019 Chow’s Challenge (career high)
• Margin of Improvement: Jones bends her legs slightly and loses her toe point in the air.
• Impact on the Team: Head coach Jordyn Wieber will be delighted to add a new 10.0 start value vault to her roster. However, Jones may want to work on consistency to take full advantage of her start value.

Uneven Bars

• Skills: piked Jaeger, Pak salto, double layout
• Results: third place at the 2019 North Carolina state meet
• Margin of Improvement: Jones could keep her body a bit tighter on her handstands, but her form is overall good. Her Pak salto is excellent.
• Impact on the Team: Jones is expected to contribute to the lineup from the start.

Balance Beam

• Skills: BHS + LOSO, switch leap to ring leap, front aerial to scale, 1.5 twist dismount
• Results: tied second place at the 2019 Region 8 regionals
• Margin of Improvement: Jones is rather inconsistent on beam, but when she hits, her routine is strong. Her beautiful toe point stands out particularly here.
• Impact on the Team: Jones has the potential to make the lineup if only she can keep her nerves at bay.

Floor Exercise

• Skills: front layout to front double twist, 1.5 twist to front layout, front full to front pike
• Results: 2018 J.O. nationals co-champion
• Margin of Improvement: Jones’ lines are beautiful on floor, and her first tumbling pass is very difficult.
• Impact on the Team: Jones’ routine is not the flashiest, but it is elegant and she has the potential to score very high. She will become a consistent contributor to the lineup.

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Article by Talitha Ilacqua

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