The Razorbacks ended the season ranked ninth in the SEC based on their National Qualifying Score (NQS), which meant they narrowly missed qualifying for the conference championship meet. Only the top eight teams earned a spot, and while Arkansas couldn’t directly control its fate, a higher score might have improved its chances.
“It was an emotional night,” said Coach Jordyn Wieber. “The team knew what was at stake and wanted it so badly. We put together a strong performance but left the door open.”
Wieber expressed frustration with the judging, feeling many routines were underscored. “In my opinion, the total should have been higher based on what I saw from the team,” she said.
Freshman Joscelyn Roberson came close to a perfect 10 for the second consecutive home meet. When her 9.925 was announced, fans at Walton Arena voiced their disappointment, believing she deserved a higher score. The score tied her and teammate Frankie Price with Missouri’s Amari Celestine for first place on floor exercise.
Roberson had previously scored 9.975 against Alabama on Feb. 28, another instance where Wieber believed she was deserving of a 10. However, Missouri’s Helen Hu did achieve a perfect 10 on balance beam, her second of the season.
Roberson’s 9.925 was Arkansas’ highest balance beam score, tying her for third in the event. She was the only all-around competitor, finishing with a total of 39.525.
Hailey Klein was Arkansas’ only other podium finisher, placing second on vault with a 9.875.
Senior Kalyxta Gamiao, honored on senior night, led off the beam and floor rotations with scores of 9.9 in both events. “What an amazing farewell to our home arena for her,” Wieber said. “She’s grown so much over these four years, both as an athlete and a person.”
The Razorbacks also had exhibition routines in all four events. Cami Weaver’s 9.925 matched Roberson’s team-high score, while Kaitlyn Ewald debuted a new vault with a 9.775. Dakota Essenpries scored 9.775 on floor, and Sadie Smith earned 9.725 on beam.
Now, Arkansas awaits the NCAA Selection Show on March 24 to determine its postseason placement. The top 36 teams qualify for NCAA Regionals, with the top 16 earning seeds.
Despite missing the SEC Championship, Arkansas remains in contention for a national seed, as their NQS improved to 197.055. “We’re in an incredibly competitive conference,” Wieber said. “It’s unfortunate that a team ranked in the top 15 or 16 has to sit out. But we’re focusing on what we can control. Regionals are what matter most, and everything we want is still in front of us.”