Tonight’s SEC showdown brings us another thrilling matchup, as the Arkansas Razorbacks host the LSU Tigers in Bud Walton Arena for the highly anticipated Pack the Bud Red night. The last time these two SEC powerhouses met, LSU set a program record with a massive 198.475. While it’s hard to predict that level of scoring again, tonight’s meet is shaping up to be a close and exciting competition.
Last week, the Razorbacks narrowly missed a win against Auburn, but they showcased some standout performances that fans should watch for tonight. Joscelyn Roberson’s dynamic Lopez vault is always a highlight, while routines from Frankie Price, Cami Weaver, and former Alabama gymnast Mati Waligora were crucial to Arkansas’ success. Expect them to bring that momentum into this evening’s competition.
On the LSU side, the Tigers are riding high after their home victory over Florida. Haleigh Bryant made a thrilling return to the floor last week, and we hope to see her competing again tonight. All-around stars Kailin Chio and Aleah Finnegan have been consistent performers for LSU, and Chase Brock’s return to the vault lineup has bolstered their team. Additionally, Konnor McClain is back in top form on bars and beam after recovering from last year’s Achilles injury.
Meets in Bud Walton Arena are always electric, and tonight should be no exception. Get comfortable and prepare for an evening of top-tier gymnastics!
Rotation 1: Arkansas VT, LSU UB
Weaver (Ark): Beautiful Yurchenko full to start the Razorbacks off. 9.875
Zeiss (LSU): Maloney to Pak, solid. Love the control on last handstand. Stuck dismount. 9.85
Smith (Ark): Yurchenko full, small hop backward. 9.80
Cowan (LSU): Nice Ray to bail. Fights to keep the last handstand upright. Double layout, stuck. 9.875
Lang (Ark): Yurchenko full, small hop backward. 9.825
Jeffrey (LSU): Maloney to bail to handstand, solid. Huge full-in, gets the stick. 9.875
Essenpries (Ark): Yurchenko 1.5, slightly overrotated and steps forward. 9.875
Chio (LSU): Maloney to bail to handstand, pretty. Beautiful Khorkina, I’m SO glad we’ve resurrected this release. Huge double layout, has a bunch of mini steps on the landing. 9.725
Roberson (Ark): Beautiful Lopez vault, fights for the stick but takes a step. 9.875
Finnegan (LSU): Beautiful piked Delchev. Bail to handstand, solid. Full-in, takes a small step. 9.85
Klein (Ark): A bit of a lineup change and she traded places with Price. Huge Yurchenko 1.5, slightly off to the side and steps to the side. 9.80
McClain (LSU): Huge piked Tkatchev to bail to handstand. Beautiful lines throughout. Stuck full-in. 9.925
Ex- Tatum (LSU): Nice Jaeger, short on the handstand going into next release. Pretty Pak. I missed the dismount somehow ugh.
After 1: LSU 49.375, Arkansas 49.250
Arkansas looked solid on vault. I can only imagine what they will look like once they get the landings down. LSU had a great bar rotation overall.
Rotation 2: LSU VT, Arkansas UB
Zeiss (LSU): Yurchenko 1.5, some form in the air but solid. 9.8
Roberson (Ark): Maloney to Pak, solid. Nice clean lines throughout. Beautiful stuck double layout dismount. 9.85
Brock (LSU): Drills that Yurchenko 1.5 through the floor, wow I’m speechless. 9.9
Swaney (Ark): Maloney to Pak, pretty but a small leg separation. Nice double layout, fights for the stick but has a small shuffle. 9.675
Finnegan (LSU): Yurchenko 1.5, a little high on the table and underrotates it a bit. 9.75
Ewald (Ark): Pretty straddle Jaeger. Huge Pak. Double layout, small step. 9.825
Lincoln (LSU): Huge Yurchenko 1.5, a wee bit overcooked and hops forward. 9.85
Park (Ark): Huge Ray to clear hip handstand. Nice bail to handstand. Double layout, stuck. 9.875
Drayton (LSU): Yurchenko 1.5, love her block so much. 9.85
Jones (Ark): Pretty piked Jaeger. Huge Pak and great swing out of it. Double layout, fights for the stick but slides backward. 9.825
Chio (LSU): Yurchenko 1.5, stuck like glue wow. 9.95
Waligora (Ark): Huge straddle Jaeger. Nice swing throughout. Stuck double layout. 9.875.
After 2: LSU 98.725, Arkansas 98.500
I loved the consistency from both teams this rotation. They were all aggressive and really going for the sticks, which I love to see this early in the season. Excited to see what the rest of the meet holds.
Rotation 3: Arkansas BB, LSU FX
Gamiao (Ark): Standing loso loso, pretty. Solid side somi. Switch leap split jump, nice lines. Solid full turn. Ro 1.5, small hop. 9.8
Dunne (LSU): Front through to ro bhs double back, slightly overrotated. Pretty leaps with nice extensions. Ro bhs double pike, takes a slightly larger step than usual. 9.7
Jones (Ark): Front aerial to bhs bhs, small break in the connection but keeps it moving. Nice full turn. A little off balance in her leaps but pretty. Front full dismount, small slide backward. 9.625
Brock (LSU): Huge full-in to open, a wee bit short on the landing. Nice wolf 1.5. Ro back 1.5 to front layout, nice and clean. Switch side to Popa, love the extension she gets. 9.825
Park (Ark): Nice full turn. Bhs loso, nice and aggressive. Switch leap switch leap, small balance check. Side aerial to back 1.5, small step but pretty. 9.725
Drayton (LSU): Huge ro bhs double layout to open. Beautiful switch ring switch half. I love with gymnasts actually hit a full ring, its so pretty. Front through to ro bhs double back, just a wee bit short. 9.875
Weaver (Ark): Bhs loso, love how well she covered up being off in the air. Nice side aerial. Solid full turn. Straddle jump to double stag jump, I love how unique and pretty this combo is. Ro 1.5, takes the tiniest of steps. 9.825
Chio (LSU): Pretty full-in to open. Beautiful tour jete to switch ring, not sure what the rest of her series was supposed to be as it looks like she rolled her ankle or something. Front through to ro 1.5 front tuck, solid. 9.1
Swaney (Ark): Nice full turn. Bhs bhs loso, just tiny bit off but covers it well. Split jump to ring jump, ring was a little short but pretty. Side gainer full, stuck cold. 9.8
It appears we are having a bit of a scoring discrepancy so there’s a slight pause in competition.
Finnegan (LSU): Ro bhs double Arabian stag jump, has too much sauce and goes out of bounds. Great extension in her leaps. Ro bhs double full punch front, seemed a little undercut but pretty. 9.575
Roberson (Ark): Switch leap to back tuck, solid. Nice full turn. Side aerial back loso, loses her balance and brings her leg up to catch herself. Front full dismount, small step. 9.7
Bryant (LSU): Fhs double front, huge amplitude. Switch leap switch full, nice extension. Punch front layout to Rudi, love the control in the landing. 9.875
After 3: LSU 147.575, Arkansas 147.350
Both teams seemed a bit nervous this rotation. There were lots of little mistakes here and there, but overall the Tigers and the Razorbacks recovered well. Going into the final rotation, these two teams have to give it their all in hopes of not giving away anymore small tenths.
Rotation 4: LSU BB, Arkansas FX
Ballard (LSU): Solid bhs loso. Sissone switch half, great height. Nice front toss. Ro double full, fights for the stick but moves her foot a smidge. 9.8
Gamiao (Ark): Ro bhs double pike, love the height she gets. Ro full through to ro bhs double full, LOVED her flight on this. Beautiful leaps. Closes out with a huge ro bhs double back. 9.85
Coen (LSU): Bhs loso, dances out of her balance check. Switch leap straddle jump, nice extension. Solid full turn. Ro double full, fights for the stick but hops forward. 9.65
Klein (Ark): Front through to ro bhs double back, slides out of it but nice height in the air. Switch full to switch half to Shushunova, love love love this series. Solid front layout front full, just a bit of form in the air. 9.825
Chio (LSU): Bhs onto the beam, so so pretty. Solid bhs loso. Switch leap split jump, great extension. Nice full turn. Front aerial split jump, pretty. Bhs 1.5, small hop forward. 9.85
Jones (Ark): Ro bhs 2.5, so so pretty. Ro back 1.5 front full. Switch ring switch half, great extension. Fhs Rudi, slides back just a smidge. 9.875
McClain (LSU): Switch leap switch half, small balance check. Front aerial bhs, I have absolutely no idea how she saved that but okay queen. Solid full turn. Small balance check on jumps. Side gainer full, stuck. 9.575
Smith (Ark): Front layout through to ro bhs double back, slides her foot back a bit. Switch half switch side, nice extension. Ro bhs double pike, STUCK COLD WOW. 9.925
Bryant (LSU): Nice and sharp series. Switch leap split leap, great extension. Nice front tuck and split jump that follows. Front 1.5, stuck. 9.8
Roberson (Ark): Huge ro bhs double layout. Switch side switch half, great height and extension. Front layout through to ro bhs double back, front foot comes up a little but great in the air. 9.925
Finnegan (LSU): Bhs loso loso, nicely done. Switch leap split jump, great extension. Nice full turn. Pretty front aerial. Side gainer full, stuck. 9.925
Price (Ark): I zoned out for the first half of her routine, don’t really know what happened there. Great height and extension in her leaps. Huge ro bhs double layout. Ro 1.5 front layout, stuck. I love the comeback Arkansas made tonight. 9.95
FINAL: Arkansas 196.875, LSU 196.600
VT: Chio (LSU) 9.95
UB: McClain (LSU) 9.925
BB: Finnegan (LSU) 9.925
FX: Price (Ark) 9.95
AA: Roberson (Ark) 39.350
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Live blog by Jessica Brock
