Razorbacks No. 19 in preseason

Arkansas’ Braie Speed celebrates Friday, March 11, 2016, after competing in the bars rotation during the 11th-ranked Razorbacks’ meet with Utah State in Barnhill Arena in Fayetteville.

The Arkansas Razorbacks will open 2018 ranked No. 19 in the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches preseason poll released Monday.

The Razorbacks, led by 16th-year Coach Mark Cook, will compete against nine teams included in the preseason Top 25, including meets against No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 2 Florida, No. 3 LSU, No. 4 Alabama, No. 10 Kentucky, No. 14 Auburn, No. 16 Georgia and No. 17 Missouri. The Razorbacks were judged to have the nation's second-hardest schedule by Road to Nationals.

All eight SEC programs that sponsor gymnastics are ranked in the top 19.

The Razorbacks will welcome the return of senior Amanda Wellick, who suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon injury in Week 2 last season. Other standouts include senior Braie Speed and sophomore Jessica Yamzon, who were individual participants at the NCAA championships last year.

Arkansas will host an exhibition meet Sunday at 5 p.m. at Barnhill Arena.

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-- Tom Murphy