Two Razorbacks Aim for Glory at NCAA Gymnastics Championships

Fayetteville, Arkansas — Arkansas gymnastics will showcase two competitors at the NCAA Championships on April 17 as senior Maddie Jones and freshman Joscelyn Roberson compete as individual qualifiers. This event marks a significant milestone for both athletes as they aim for top honors in Fort Worth.

Roberson, a standout in her rookie season, is one of only four all-around qualifiers in the national field and the sole freshman among them. Already, she has been making waves, having set and broken the Arkansas freshman all-around record three times in a single season, including a personal best score of 39.625 at the University Park regional final.

With numerous accolades under her belt, Roberson has won 12 event or all-around titles throughout the season, securing all-around victories in five of her ten appearances. She currently holds the No. 25 ranking nationally for all-around, with notable event scores that include a 9.915 on beam and 9.925 on floor. These scores place her in the top 25 nationally for both events.

“The support from my teammates and coaches has been incredible,” Roberson said. “I’m excited for my first NCAA Championship and hope to make an impact.”

The 19-year-old athlete has shown impressive consistency, achieving ten scores of 9.900 or higher on beam this season, including five consecutive scores since February 28. She has also earned All-American honors for the regular season on beam and was named to the All-SEC team for her performance.

Meanwhile, this competition serves as a poignant farewell for Maddie Jones, highlighting her successful career at Arkansas gymnastics. A consistent performer on the bars, Jones excels in her position, having maintained her ranking as a mainstay of the Gymback bars lineup since her freshman year.

At the regionals, Jones showcased her talent, scoring back-to-back 9.950s, which crowned her co-champion on bars in University Park, marking a first for the program. She enters the championship with a National Qualifying Score (NQS) of 9.905, making her one of the top qualifiers in the event.

“Competing for Arkansas has been a dream come true, and I’m looking forward to giving it everything I have in my final routine,” Jones stated. “I hope to leave it all on the mat.”

Roberson and Jones are set to withdraw their efforts to extend Arkansas’s All-American streak, with ten accolades awarded to the program since 2021. If Roberson achieves a top-eight finish in any event or all-around, she would become the first Arkansas freshman to earn NCAA All-American honors since 2012. Jones aims to become the third Gymback in five seasons to earn All-American status on bars, following in the footsteps of Maggie O’Hara and Reese Drotar.

Both athletes will compete in the evening semifinal session, which begins at 8 p.m. Roberson will rotate with Utah and start on beam, while Jones will compete in the second rotation alongside Michigan State. The championship will be broadcast live on ESPN2, and fans can follow live stats via Virtius.

For ongoing updates regarding Arkansas gymnastics, visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com or follow the Razorbacks on social media: Facebook (Arkansas Razorback Gymnastics) and Twitter/Instagram (@RazorbackGym).