University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, January 10
4:00 PM
University of Minnesota
196.775
vs
196.700
Arkansas
Players Mentioned
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
No. 15 'U' Comes Back to Beat No. 10 Arkansas in Home Opener
1/10/2026 6:53:00 PM | Gymnastics
The Gophers posted a score of 196.775
MINNEAPOLIS -- The No. 15 Minnesota gymnastics team came from behind to defeat the No. 10 Arkansas Razorbacks in their home opener Saturday evening, 196.775-196.700.
"It was just an incredible meet from both teams," said head coach Jenny Hansen. "I'm so proud of our team. We learned a lot last week and really applied that going into this week. We made some really good improvements and looked more confident and consistent."
The Gophers trailed 98.350-98.100 after two rotations before tallying a 49.425 on beam to tie it up heading into the final rotation. A standout floor performance from the 'U' put the home team over the top, notching an early-season top-10 victory.
"Our beam team is incredible," Hansen said. "From top to bottom, we have nine kids that can go 9.900-or-higher. It's a tough choice for us as a staff, but they came out and thrived. It was so great to see them attack those routines like they do in practice."
The Gophers posted scores of 49.075 on vault, 49.025 on bars, 49.425 on beam and 49.250 on the floor. Arkansas outscored Minnesota on vault (49.250) and bars (49.100) but the 'U' had higher scores than the Gymbacks did on beam (49.175) and floor (49.175).
Individually, Sarah Moraw and Emma Slevin (9.850) led the Gophers on vault, Jordyn Lyden (9.850) led on bars and Gianna Gerdes (9.925) was the top beam score. On the floor, Sophie Swartzmiller and Arianna Ostrum paced the 'U' with 9.875s. Gianna Gerdes went 39.175 on the all-around.
Event champions tonight on vault were Arkansas' Allison Cucci and Lauren Williams (9.900). Leah Smith of the Gymbacks went 9.875 to win on bars while Joscelyn Roberson earned a 9.950 to win on beam. There was a three-way tie on the floor with UA's Morgan Price and Minnesota's Sophie Swartzmiller and Arianna Ostrum (9.875). It was the first career event titles for both Swartzmiller and Ostrum.
"The energy here at the Pav tonight was amazing. I think it can continue to get better. If you have not been to a meet yet, you're definitely missing out. We would love to see you next weekend to see something so special in our first Big Ten meet against Michigan," Hansen said.
EVENT BREAKDOWN:
VAULT
The Gophers started out the evening with a 49.075 on vault. Gianna Gerdes and Emma Slevin led the pack with 9.850s while Ava Stewart earned a 9.825. Teryn Crump went 9.800 and Sarah Moraw rounded out the group with a 9.750. Minnesota was just .025 behind Arkansas after the first event, 49.100-49.075.
BARS
The Gophers totaled a 49.025 on the uneven bars, led by Jordyn Lyden with a 9.850. Lacie Saltzmann had the best performance of her young career, tallying a 9.825. Gianna Gerdes went 9.800 while Teryn Crump and Emma Slevin totaled 9.775s. The Gophers trailed after two rotations, 98.350-98.100.
BEAM
Minnesota had its best performance on beam since the 2025 Big Ten Championships, going a stellar 49.425. Gianna Gerdes led the 'U' with a career-best 9.925 while Jordyn Lyden and Sarah Moraw went 9.900. The 9.900 tied a career-high for Lyden. Arianna Ostrum set a new career-high with a 9.850 beam score while Brooklyn Rowray tied her with the same score. Heading into the final rotation, Minnesota made up .250 to tie up Arkansas at 147.525-apiece.
FLOOR
The 'U' finished out the meet with a standout floor grouping to earn the victory. The Gophers posted a 49.250 score, led by 9.875s from Arianna Ostrum and Sophie Swartzmiller. Jordyn Lyden posted a season-best of 9.850 while Lacie Saltzmann and Leah Gonsiorowski went 9.825. Minnesota outscored Arkansas 49.250-49.175 on the last rotation to break the tie and earn the victory.
NOTABLE:
-Sophie Swartzmiller posted a 9.875 to lead the group on the floor. It was her sixth straight meet going 9.850-or-better, dating back to the 2025 season.
-Jordyn Lyden had standout performances on beam (9.900), bars (9.850) and floor (9.850). Lyden tied her career-best on the balance beam.
-Freshman Arianna Ostrum set new career-bests on both floor (9.875) and beam (9.850). She took home her first event title on the floor.
-Emma Slevin set career-bests on both vault (9.850) and bars (9.775).
-Gianna Gerdes set a new career-best on the balance beam with a 9.925. Her previous best was 9.900 in 2024.
-This was the first time since 2005 that Arkansas came to Minnesota. The two teams last met in the 2024 NCAA Regional Finals in Fayetteville, Ark. The Gymbacks were victorious in that matchup, advancing to the NCAA National Championships.
UP NEXT
Minnesota hosts No. 14 Michigan at 4 p.m. CT next Saturday, Jan. 17 to open their Big Ten home slate on B1G+.
"It was just an incredible meet from both teams," said head coach Jenny Hansen. "I'm so proud of our team. We learned a lot last week and really applied that going into this week. We made some really good improvements and looked more confident and consistent."
The Gophers trailed 98.350-98.100 after two rotations before tallying a 49.425 on beam to tie it up heading into the final rotation. A standout floor performance from the 'U' put the home team over the top, notching an early-season top-10 victory.
"Our beam team is incredible," Hansen said. "From top to bottom, we have nine kids that can go 9.900-or-higher. It's a tough choice for us as a staff, but they came out and thrived. It was so great to see them attack those routines like they do in practice."
The Gophers posted scores of 49.075 on vault, 49.025 on bars, 49.425 on beam and 49.250 on the floor. Arkansas outscored Minnesota on vault (49.250) and bars (49.100) but the 'U' had higher scores than the Gymbacks did on beam (49.175) and floor (49.175).
Individually, Sarah Moraw and Emma Slevin (9.850) led the Gophers on vault, Jordyn Lyden (9.850) led on bars and Gianna Gerdes (9.925) was the top beam score. On the floor, Sophie Swartzmiller and Arianna Ostrum paced the 'U' with 9.875s. Gianna Gerdes went 39.175 on the all-around.
Event champions tonight on vault were Arkansas' Allison Cucci and Lauren Williams (9.900). Leah Smith of the Gymbacks went 9.875 to win on bars while Joscelyn Roberson earned a 9.950 to win on beam. There was a three-way tie on the floor with UA's Morgan Price and Minnesota's Sophie Swartzmiller and Arianna Ostrum (9.875). It was the first career event titles for both Swartzmiller and Ostrum.
"The energy here at the Pav tonight was amazing. I think it can continue to get better. If you have not been to a meet yet, you're definitely missing out. We would love to see you next weekend to see something so special in our first Big Ten meet against Michigan," Hansen said.
EVENT BREAKDOWN:
VAULT
The Gophers started out the evening with a 49.075 on vault. Gianna Gerdes and Emma Slevin led the pack with 9.850s while Ava Stewart earned a 9.825. Teryn Crump went 9.800 and Sarah Moraw rounded out the group with a 9.750. Minnesota was just .025 behind Arkansas after the first event, 49.100-49.075.
BARS
The Gophers totaled a 49.025 on the uneven bars, led by Jordyn Lyden with a 9.850. Lacie Saltzmann had the best performance of her young career, tallying a 9.825. Gianna Gerdes went 9.800 while Teryn Crump and Emma Slevin totaled 9.775s. The Gophers trailed after two rotations, 98.350-98.100.
BEAM
Minnesota had its best performance on beam since the 2025 Big Ten Championships, going a stellar 49.425. Gianna Gerdes led the 'U' with a career-best 9.925 while Jordyn Lyden and Sarah Moraw went 9.900. The 9.900 tied a career-high for Lyden. Arianna Ostrum set a new career-high with a 9.850 beam score while Brooklyn Rowray tied her with the same score. Heading into the final rotation, Minnesota made up .250 to tie up Arkansas at 147.525-apiece.
FLOOR
The 'U' finished out the meet with a standout floor grouping to earn the victory. The Gophers posted a 49.250 score, led by 9.875s from Arianna Ostrum and Sophie Swartzmiller. Jordyn Lyden posted a season-best of 9.850 while Lacie Saltzmann and Leah Gonsiorowski went 9.825. Minnesota outscored Arkansas 49.250-49.175 on the last rotation to break the tie and earn the victory.
NOTABLE:
-Sophie Swartzmiller posted a 9.875 to lead the group on the floor. It was her sixth straight meet going 9.850-or-better, dating back to the 2025 season.
-Jordyn Lyden had standout performances on beam (9.900), bars (9.850) and floor (9.850). Lyden tied her career-best on the balance beam.
-Freshman Arianna Ostrum set new career-bests on both floor (9.875) and beam (9.850). She took home her first event title on the floor.
-Emma Slevin set career-bests on both vault (9.850) and bars (9.775).
-Gianna Gerdes set a new career-best on the balance beam with a 9.925. Her previous best was 9.900 in 2024.
-This was the first time since 2005 that Arkansas came to Minnesota. The two teams last met in the 2024 NCAA Regional Finals in Fayetteville, Ark. The Gymbacks were victorious in that matchup, advancing to the NCAA National Championships.
UP NEXT
Minnesota hosts No. 14 Michigan at 4 p.m. CT next Saturday, Jan. 17 to open their Big Ten home slate on B1G+.
Highlights: Gophers 196.775, Arkansas 196.700
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