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Gymbacks Working Their Way To The Top

Arkansas gymnastics upset Alabama and hold on to their No. 12 ranking despite losing key seniors.

FAYETTEVILLE (KFSM) - The Gymbacks are working their way back to the top. They just took down the defending SEC champion and sixth ranked Alabama Crimson Tide Friday night to hold on to their No. 12 ranking.

"In sports anything can happen," coach Mark Cook said. "So we went into that meet with just a lot of confidence. We were prepared, one event at a time."

The meet came down to the floor exercise where the Gymbacks set a program record score in the final rotation to edge out Alabama by less than a point.

"We were really confident in all of our lineup, and going into that last event with floor being one of our strongest events, it didn't really terrify us," junior Heather Elswick said. "It was just exciting to do what we love to do. Just be confident in that."

This team is all about confidence. Even though they lost some key seniors, including NCAA champion Katherine Grable, they are still determined to make it to the top.

"It's always about just working and getting better. I think Katherine was a great gymnast, but everyone has to graduate. She graduated and I'm proud of her. But, the new athletes coming in are very talented as well. Our returners got better in the off season. They're performing better. They're performing more difficulty," Cook said.

Coach Cook says this is a young team, but that isn't a hindrance to their capabilities.

"Our goal, again, is to be fighting for a national championship and definitely be in the top three in the country. With this team right now, and the recruiting classes coming in the next two years, we are extremely excited for the future of this program," Cook said.

They've got one word to help them get there.

"Stronger is out motto for the year. So, just trying to build on every single week, and every single practice," Elswick said.

They'll next face No. 19 Auburn on Friday.

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