Razorback Gymnast Katherine Grable Makes History; Takes Titles

 

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – All-American senior Katherine Grable laid claim to the first and second national titles in Arkansas gymnastic program history on the vault and floor during the NCAA women’s gymnastics championship in Birmingham, Ala., on Sunday.

“I am honored to be the first national champion in program history,” Grable said. “It has been a dream of mine for my floor and vault routines to be recognized during my time as a Razorback. To win both events in the final meet of my career is surreal.”

The Oshkosh, Wis., native won the vault national title after posting a career-best 9.975 in the second-position, which would stand for the whole first flight. LSU’s Rheagan Courville would stick her vault in the second flight as well to share the Co-National Championship. The 9.975 is the highest winning vault score in NCAA history. Grable’s vault title, marked the second individual national championship on the vault in co-head coach Mark Cook’s career. Grable claimed three scores of a perfect 10.0 from half of the judges on the event.

“We have gotten close with a few gymnast in the past, but this is a history breaking moment for our program,” Cook said. “It is such an honor to bring back these national championships for our program but also for the Arkansas Razorbacks and for the whole state of Arkansas.”

Katherine GrableOn the floor, Grable was the last to go for the event. She needed to beat a three-way tie of 9.95’s to claim the outright title. Grable completed her routine to the tune of a 9.962 and claimed her second national title of the day. She did so by scoring two perfect 10.0’s from the judges to count one of them and earn the edge she needed to claim the outright title.

“It is such an honor to see your hard work and dedication pay off,” assistant coach Samantha Cortez said. “To be a part of the first team to advance to the national championship and now be a apart of the team’s first national championship is incredible.”

Grable completed the storybook ending for her career as a Razorback by claiming the first two national championships in program history and collecting a share of the program record on four of the five events.

 

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