During the 2026 NCAA Gymnastics dual meet between Arkansas and Missouri, Joscelyn Roberson delivered a performance for the ages. Representing the Arkansas Razorbacks, Roberson dazzled the crowd with her routines, but despite her brilliance, Arkansas came up just short as Missouri edged them out with a final score of 197.425 to 197.225.
The Razorbacks’ season has been a rollercoaster, with a 5-5-1 overall record and a 2-3-1 mark in conference play. Even in defeat against Missouri, the team found bright spots to celebrate, especially the electrifying performance from freshman Allison Cucci.
Joscelyn Roberson’s Historic Performance
Roberson joined the Razorbacks for her freshman season in 2025, earning several accolades, including becoming Arkansas’s first freshman NCAA All-American on beam and winning 12 event or all-around titles.
In their meet against Missouri on Sunday, March 1, Roberson made history by becoming the first gymnast in NCAA history to perform the Mustafina vault, a difficult skill known for its power and form, named after Russian gymnast Aliya Mustafina. Roberson scored a 9.775 with this vault, helping the Razorbacks to a total score of 49.200 on vault.
Roberson and the Razorbacks now set their sights on a comeback as they prepare to face top-ranked Oklahoma on Friday, March 6, in their final home meet of the season. The action begins at 7:15 PM ET, streaming live on the SEC Network.
Roberson On Her Freshman Season
Roberson’s rise began with a team gold at the 2023 World Championships, followed by a beam victory and more at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials, where she earned a spot as an alternate for Team USA at the Paris Games. After Paris, she launched her collegiate career with Arkansas.
In an interview with Inside Gymnastics, Roberson spoke about her freshman season, saying: “My freshman year was not what I expected at all! I expected to have more free time than I did in the Elite world. I didn’t realize everything behind the scenes that’s going on. Yes, you only practice 20 hours a week, but you also have school, we’re traveling, so you have no free time. But, I love the grind and competing every week was so much fun, especially with the team.”
In the conversation, Roberson also discussed the prospect of the Razorbacks winning the national championship. Arkansas has never won an NCAA team title, with its strongest finishes being reaching the NCAA Championship semifinals twice (5th in 2009, 6th in 2012). Last season, they were knocked out at the NCAA Regional Final.
