The University of Arkansas, The University of Iowa, and the University of Michigan will all be dueling it out down at the Cancun Classic to start off the 2016 season with a bang. FloGymnastics will be on-site live streaming the competition and the coverage of the NCAA session will begin at 7:00 pm EST on January 2nd. There are a few key competitors from each team you’ll want to watch out for as we kick off an exciting 2016 season.

Arkansas

Paige Zaziski was a huge asset to Arkansas in her rookie season as a Razorback. She was named 2015 SEC Co-Freshman of the Year and earned All-SEC Team and All-SEC Freshman Team honors for her outstanding performances. Zaziski holds the Arkansas program record on bars with a 9.950 and averaged a 39.016 in the all-around last season. She will surely be a big player in 2016. 

Watch Zaziski on vault last season:



Arkansas has two freshmen on the team this year, Makenzie Anderson and Sydney McGlone, who are both expected to make an impact by competing in all four events. Anderson comes from Twin City Twisters Gymnastics in Minnesota and competed at four consecutive JO Nationals. McGlone, of Universal Gymnasts, Inc., is a three-time Ohio state champion and also made her mark at five JO National Championships.

Senior Sydnie Dillard will be a strong leader for the Razorbacks as she has been a rock for the team since her freshman year. Since 2013, Dillard has competed in all 37 balance beam and floor exercise rotations and boasts personal bests of 9.9 on both beam and floor.

Watch Dillard nail a beam set last season:



Additionally, junior Amanda Wellick will be a big contributor for the Razorbacks this season. She was one of two gymnasts to compete in the all-around in every meet last year and is expected to compete all-around to open 2016 as well. She received All-SEC honors last season and earned an SEC Co-Gymnast of the week in January 2015. She was also SEC Freshman of the year in 2014, so watch out for big things from Wellick!

Iowa

The Iowa Hawkeyes have incredible depth on their 22-gymnast roster, which includes eight newcomers. Two junior Hawkeyes were named to the 2016 Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch List—Mollie Drenth and Angel Metcalf. 

Metcalf has been a key performer for the Hawkeyes, especially last season when she registered Iowa's individual season bests on beam (9.900) and in the all-around (39.40). She was named to the Big 10 All-Championship Team and competed as an individual at the NCAA Auburn Regional with a fifth-place finish in the all-around with a 39.175.

Watch Metcalf rock bars:



Drenth competed in every single meet last season and was named to the 2015 Big Ten All-Championship Team. She owns Iowa's individual season best on uneven bars (9.925) and was rewarded with a Big Ten Event Specialist of the Week accolade after earning that score. Drenth also competed at NCAA Auburn Regional last season and finished eighth in the all-around with a 39.050.

Michigan

Michigan has a very talented team with a couple standout contributors that will help the team rise to new heights in 2016.

Junior Nicole Artz has an incredible list of accomplishments with just two competitive seasons under her belt. She is a five-time NCAA All-American, NCAA Northeast Region Gymnast of the Year, Big Ten Freshman of the Year, and a Three-time Big Ten champion. Artz brings strong leadership to the team and great power and artistry in her gymnastics. 

Watch Artz score a HUGE 9.975 on floor last season:



Junior Talia Chiarelli had a fantastic sophomore season where she became one of Michigan’s top performers and earned first team All-American honors on beam and floor. She tied for the Big Ten title on floor and earned first team All-Big Ten honors.

Watch Chiarelli's confident beam routine during Michigan's December exhibition:



Michigan gained a very talented and impressive performer in freshman Olivia Karas. In her first exhibition as a Wolverine, Karas led the team with her all-around performance in early December. She was also named to the Big Ten Preseason Gymnast to Watch list. 

Watch Karas' exhibition floor routine which includes a big Arabian double front opening pass:


Learn more about Karas and Michigan's other freshmen here


Join FloPRO to watch the Cancun Classic, and every live event this season.


Related: 
Big 10 Preseason Rankings Watchlist
SEC Senior Saturday: Heather Elswick, Arkansas
Michigan December Intrasquad Videos