SPORTS
By Steve Andrews | Photos courtesy of Razorback Communications
Arkansas Gymnastics Continues to Elevate with Championship Aspirations
Even as she prepared for Olympic glory at a young age, Jordyn Wieber trained like a champion. Now, the former gold medalist is passing on those traits to the team she coaches.
Wieber is in her seventh season leading the charge at the University of Arkansas. Now 30, she was just 23 when Arkansas made her the youngest college head coach in the country.
“I’m happy to be in this spot for another year,” Wieber said. “I am feeling really motivated coming off of last season but also excited about the current team and what its potential is. Nothing but positive, motivated feelings across the board from our coaches and staff. We are ready to get this thing going and attack the season, and do what we know we are capable of doing.”
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After COVID-19 shortened her first year, Wieber has led the Gymbacks to five straight regionals — the program’s 20th consecutive appearance overall. Following a seventh-place finish nationally two seasons ago, an injury-plagued squad battled valiantly but fell in the regionals to finish last season in the top 12.
As the program continues to grow, Wieber and her staff are now looking to take things up to an elite level, in search of a national championship.
“The program has grown in every way it possibly can,” Wieber said. “Even just looking at the quality of gymnastics and the type of competitors and athletes we have recruited. While we were good before, I think every year we continue to raise the level of gymnastics and the quality of gymnastics and the score potential. Not to mention culturally — that has been a huge part of growing the program. We want this to be a championship culture across the board.”
Being the only collegiate coaching staff in America that includes three former Olympians, winning is nothing new to this crew. Now, it’s just a matter of translating that champion mindset, which includes bringing in the right athletes that fit the program.
“We have increased the level of competitiveness,” Wieber said. “We have recruited personalities that are inherently more competitive and want to help us take the program to the next level. So, that’s been a huge factor. But I think our culture is what truly carries us. People that are willing to come in, not only train like champions but think like champions and live their lives like a champion. And if you do all those things, you will have the opportunity to compete like a champion. That is the culture that we cultivate on a daily basis. That’s how we’ve been able to increase the level of competitiveness.”
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Head Coach Jordyn Weiber
While the Gymbacks have always had fan support, the past two seasons’ attendance averages have skyrocketed to more than 7,000 per meet, including a record 11,031 against Florida in 2023. Along with growing support also comes the need for a bigger venue, which the Gymbacks now have inside Bud Walton Arena.
“And then there is our fanbase and the way we have cultivated the excitement around Arkansas Gymnastics,” Wieber said. “What we have been able to do on Friday nights in Bud Walton Arena has been pretty incredible. The growth has been insane, because I feel like Arkansas Gymnastics has a completely different brand now than my first year here.”
Cami Weaver
After hosting meets inside 9,000-seat Barnhill Arena for its first 20 seasons, the Gymbacks permanently moved inside the 19,200-seat Bud Walton Arena prior to last season.
“It was a great opportunity,” Wieber said. “We had kind of inched our way there from the years prior and were able to prove that we can bring that level of fans consistently to every meet. But what matters more than just the number of people in the seats is the energy and volume that the fanbase brings. I felt like we were really consistent across the board with our crowds last year.”
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One of the goals Wieber has set for this team is to break the NCAA’s single-meet attendance record. The main target will be a March 6 meet with reigning national champion Oklahoma.
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Arkansas has eight new faces on its 20-member squad this season, while some seasoned veterans return.
“What we are looking forward to is just the level of talent that we have brought in, both with our transfers and with incoming freshmen,” Wieber said. “It feels like a really new team in a lot of ways but elevated with a level of talent.”
Joscelyn Roberson, who is returning for her sophomore year, competed in the all-around as a freshman. She is coming off of a bronze medal-winning performance at the World Championships in Indonesia in October.
Junior Lauren Williams and senior Leah Smith will be returning from injuries that sidelined them last season.
“Lauren is back and looking better than she ever has,” Wieber said. “She is expected to compete in at least three events — vault, beam and floor. She’s got the potential to score 9.95, if not higher. Leah Smith is back and really strong on vault and floor and may make some appearances on bars.”
Redshirt senior Frankie Price is still battling an Achilles injury and may miss the start of the season, but her younger sister, Morgan Price, has transferred in from Fisk University and brings a plethora of accolades. Morgan has won six national championships in the Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics National Invitational Championships, which includes back-to-back all-around crowns in 2024 and 2025.
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The Gymbacks will open their season at Minnesota on Jan. 10 before debuting at home against SEC foe Auburn on Jan. 18. Wieber and her troop are ready to take on all challengers.
“We have really seen this team come alive,” she said. “They are so hungry to get the program to the next level. Every year when we get started, the team can feel what the potential is. They just get so excited to not only compete to their best ability but put up a fight against every SEC program. If we can do well within our conference, we can surely do well nationally, because the SEC is so strong when it comes to gymnastics.”
Frankie Price
Joscelyn Roberson
