Despite Being Iced by SEC, Major Injury, Arkansas Advances

COLLEGE STATION, Penn. -- For one full weekend, because of a glitch in SEC scheduling that caused one team to sit out the championship meet at the end of the season, No. 16 Arkansas was the only team in the nation not allowed to compete in gymnastics. 

The Razorbacks had to sit helplessly as other teams and individuals got to enhance their national qualifying scores while Arkansas could do nothing but potentially watch them breeze right on by.

It wasn't because of a lack of trying. Other schools were willing to let Jordyn Wieber's team come join in on their final meet, but the NCAA rejected the idea.

So, only Arkansas sat at home and watched. 

They rested up, healed and turned their focus squarely on getting ready for the national meet. The Razorbacks had been on quite the streak as of late, posting high scores in competition, driving up their NQS, so missing a meet week was a concern as far as staying sharp. 

However, nothing could be done about that.

Finally, things returned somewhat back to normal when it was announced Arkansas would join fellow SEC powers Kentucky and LSU at Penn State for regionals. To face the Wildcats meant having to make the finals.

However, No. 1 LSU was in the regional semifinal with Arkansas which meant, although the Razorbacks stunned them by knocking them off in Bud Walton Arena, Wieber's gymnasts were in a battle for the one other remaining spot from their pod in the regional finals because the Tigers were definitely going to take the other.

Despite having to deal with a forced three-week layoff, Arkansas has advanced to its second consecutive regional finals by knocking off Michigan and Maryland to join LSU, No. 9 Kentucky and No. 8 Michigan St. in the finals Saturday.