March 28, 2024

Norah Flatley Shines in Her Debut in Fayetteville  

Photo Credits - Wes Pruett/ 4 Star Sports Media, LLC

 

Arkansas {1-1, 0-1 SEC} would lose the home and SEC opener, 196.525 -195.525, against Alabama on Friday night but coach, Jordyn Weiber, is confident in the team for the duration of this season. Arkansas Razorback and former UCLA transfer gymnast Norah Flatley debuted in a packed Barnhill Arena on Friday night. Flatley would shine as she would compete in every event on the night. We will look at Flatley’s performance, some things that coach Wieber had to say post-meet, and what is next on the schedule for the Gymbacks. Let’s see just how impressive Flatley’s home debut was.  

Norah Shines at Barnhill 

In the season’s opening meet against Nebraska, no Razorbacks competed in every event. This would not be the case as Arkansas welcomed the Tide to Fayetteville. Norah Flatley would not only compete, but she would do so essentially flawlessly. To start the meet, Arkansas competed in the vault rotation. In this event, the Razorbacks would finish with a score of 49.150. Flatley would set a team and personal record in the event with a 9.900 score.  

In the bars event, the Razorbacks had two mishaps that cost them. Even with these, the team finished strong. Flatley would score another 9.900 in this event when her team needed a scoring push. Her score was a personal best and tied a team record. Fellow Razorback, Jensen Scalzo, would score a 9.900, set a personal best, and tie the team record in this event. Watching in person, you can see that Flatley is the leader of this program. Based on the performance in this event, Arkansas has found a clutch team player in Flatley.  

It was in the beam rotation that Arkansas would gain traction in this meet. After scoring a 49.325, the Razorbacks started to pressure the tide. In this event, multiple Hogs would get a “Stuck Dismount “as the announcer, and the crowd would chant. Flatley would land another 9.900 in this event and yet again set a personal best and a team record with her score. Flatley showed a more energetic side as she smiled the entire routine. We could tell that she is having fun in Fayetteville.  

In the final rotation of the night floor, Arkansas would bring the house to its feet. The theme was a “floor party, ” which is what this team gave the fans in attendance. True freshman, and Rogers Native, Lauren Williams, would hold the crowd and judges in her hands with a fun and energetic routine. This routine would gain her a score of 9.900. This set a personal best and set a team record. Flatley would have a seemingly flawless routine that got her a 9.875 at the conclusion. This would set a personal best for her in this event.  

Flatley led the team in her performances in each event against Alabama. Competing in the all-around is something that not all athletes can do. In the post-meet press conference, head coach, Jordyn Wieber, spoke about Flatley’s debut performance at home. “She did a fantastic job. She can be even better. This is her first time competing on the floor this season, so we’re going to sharpen up some things and get a little better in all the places. But to go through three events with a 9.9 across the board and a 9.875 I think, is just fantastic. And that’s what we know Nora can do.”  

What is Next?  

Next, the Razorbacks will travel to Auburn, Alabama, to take on the Tigers. This meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. Central time and be televised on the SEC Network. The Tigers come into this matchup with a 1-3 record. Auburn competed in the 2023 Super 16 Challenge with losses to Oklahoma and Michigan. Their lone win of the challenge came on the final day against UCLA. In the Tigers’ most recent match, they lost, on the road, to Florida by a score of 197.825 – 197.200.  

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