Meet #3
Southeast Missouri (5-1) at Arkansas (1-1)
 
Meet Information: 
Date: Friday, January 23
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Fayetteville, Ark. 
Venue: Bud Walton Arena
 
Head Coaches: 
SEMO: Ashley Lawson (Eighth Season)
Arkansas: Jordyn Wieber (Seventh Season) 
 
Follow the Gymhawks: 
X: @SEMOGymnastics
Live Stats: Virtius
Watch: SEC Network+
 
Media Guide (PDF)
 
Gymhawks Battle Arkansas Friday Afternoon in Fayetteville
Southeast Missouri Gymnastics (5-1) will hit the road for an afternoon clash on Friday, January 23, against Arkansas (1-1). The Gymhawks and Razorbacks are slated to begin competition at 1 p.m. from Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Friday afternoon. 
 
Time Change
Due to projected inclement weather all over the Midwest and South, the competition has been moved up from its original start time of 7 p.m. to 1 p.m., CT. to allow for safe travel for athletes, coaches, and fans. 
 
Series History
The Gymhawks and Gymbacks will meet for just the sixth time all-time on Friday afternoon. Arkansas holds a 5-0 record over Southeast Missouri with the most recent meeting coming a season ago in Fort Worth, Texas at the 'Metroplex Challenge'. 
 
Awesome Opportunity
The Gymhawks will square off with the Gymhawks in a dual for the first time in eighth year head coach Ashley Lawson's career. Lawson on the opportunity to take on Arkansas: "This is an awesome opportunity for our girls to compete against some of the best in the country. This is the first time that we have been at a meet with just us and them, and to compete in a big-time atmosphere like Arkansas is going to be invaluable to our girls moving forward this season." 
 
Friday Dub
The Gymhawks were at the 'Windy City Invite' last Friday night where they secured a first-place victory with a 193.350 as they defeated four other opponents in the meet. The Gymhawks edged fellow MIC Members Illinois State (2^nd, 192.300) and Centenary (3^rd, 185.700). SEMO also steamrolled past Fisk (4^th, 183.525) and Wilberforce (5^th, 176.875) to improve their record to 5-1 on the season. Taylor Ingle led the way with her 39.075 all-around score, securing first place in the all-around. 
 
Second Straight
Senior Taylor Ingle and sophomore Reagan Sams picked up Midwest Independent Conference (MIC) Weekly Awards for the second-straight week, the league announced on Wednesday morning. Ingle secured her first all-around title of the season at the 'Wind City Invite' in her 18^th-straight all-around competition. She tied for first on vault (9.800), took fourth on bars (9.700), placed fifth on beam (9.775), and captured an outright floor title with a 9.800.
 
Reagan Sams captured her second-straight beam title this past weekend in Chicago after capturing first on opening weekend in Cape Girardeau. Sams scored a 9.825 to finish in first place with teammates Jaidan Kossuth and Leah Parton (9.825).
 
 Her score marked a new season-high after she recorded a 9.800 and an event title at the SEMO Tri-Meet in the season opener (1/9).
 
Welcome to the Lineup
Junior Leah Parton had a standout performance on the beam last Friday night. Parton, who started the 2026 campaign as an exhibitionist, was slotted into the third spot in the Gymhawks' beam lineup and turned in an impressive 9.825. She finished tied for first on the event and her 9.825 is her second-highest beam score in her career at SEMO.
 
Ms. Consistent
Sophomore Gracie Jones has been one of the most consistent performers on the bars for the Gymhawks over the last two seasons. Jones, who competed in 12 meets on the bars as a freshman, has hit 9.725 in the first two meets of 2026 including last week in Chicago. Jones has now scored a 9.725 or higher in five-straight meets dating back to the final three meets of 2025. 
 
Queens
The Gymhawks turned in their best performance of the season on the beam at the 'Windy City Invite' with a season-high 49.000. Dating back to 2025, the Gymhawks had just one score a season ago higher than last Friday as they turned in a 49.050 at the 2025 MIC Championship. From the first meet to last Friday, SEMO improved their beam score by .675 as a team. 
 
Sams on the Floor
Sophomore Reagan Sams improved her floor routine at the 'Windy City Invite' from her season-opening performance. Sams, who scored a 9.525 in the season-opener, scored a 9.675 in Chicago that improved her score by a 0.15 mark as she secured seventh place on the floor. 
 
Leader on Bars
Junior Ava Johnston has cemented herself as the Gymhawks' best bar specialist. Through two meets, Johnston has hit scores of 9.800 and 9.750 in the respective meets. Johnston led the Gymhawks on the bars at the 'Windy City Invite' with her score as SEMO recorded a 48.325 as a team to begin the meet.