Joscelyn Roberson didn’t ease into college gymnastics, but she stormed into it. Less than a year ago, she became an Olympic alternate. A few weeks later, she was touring arenas across the country with Simone Biles. No rest. Just lights, crowds, and travel. Then came Fayetteville. New city. No time to settle. Roberson arrived midway through the preseason. But it didn’t take long for her to make a mark. She broke Arkansas’s freshman all-around record. She qualified for nationals as an all-rounder—something no Arkansas freshman had done in seven years. Finished top 10 in her session. Tied for ninth all-time in program history.  While Arkansas, as a team, didn’t have the season they’d hoped for. She had her moments. Now the season’s done, and she has something to say.

Honestly, how do you even begin to wrap up a debut season like that? On April 24, Roberson hit pause to look back. One post, multiple pictures, and one message. “So much love for NCAA gymnastics and the University of Arkansas. I’ve had so much fun this season,” And she is correct, it wasn’t just fun it was historic too, and I would say stellar too. 

Although her team didn’t make the championship final on April 19, Joscelyn Roberson’s NCAA debut was nothing short of stellar, as she qualified as an individual. At the NCAA Championships in Fort Worth, she scored a remarkable 39.425 in the all-around — the highest-ever NCAA all-around score by a freshman in Arkansas program history. That placed her 13th overall. “I can’t believe it’s already come to an end!! So proud of everything we’ve overcome and accomplished this year. Freshman season✅ Gotta go for a minute but I’ll be back NCAA GYM😚👀⏳, ” she added.

In those images, there’s more than celebration. There’s a story. Slide one: Joscelyn Roberson grinning with Arkansas head coach Jordyn Wieber, an Olympian herself, like they just won the Super Bowl. In a way, they did. Roberson shattered the Razorbacks’ freshman all-around record three times. No Arkansas freshman had qualified for nationals in seven years. And this wasn’t it!

The other slide had, and wait, it’s the Razorback Gym family. Assistant coaches Chris Brooks, Catelyn Branson, and Kyla Ross Rittman. Ross, an Olympic gold medalist turned coach, Jordyn Wieber, and Maddie Jones (who also made nationals in the all-around) were standing shoulder to shoulder with the gymnast. Slide three?

That one turns heads. Roberson and Kentucky star Creslyn Brose. Though rivals on the floor, the post displayed mutual respect. And the last two slides, what she didn’t say might’ve spoken loudest. It had her cheering with her teammates and sharing a hugs with them!

Joscelyn Roberson’s gymnastics résumé? Already stacked. World champion. National team member. Coached at Simone Biles’ gym in Texas. A name the elite world knows. But while she had the time of her life in her freshman season, the Arkansas Razorbacks weren’t able to make it to Nationals.

The Joscelyn Roberson’s team had their heartbreak

The heartbreak started before the big stage was even set. The Arkansas Razorbacks were out of the 2025 SEC Gymnastics Championships—a gut punch no one saw coming.

They had a mixed season with 9-13 0verall stats, but had some major wins. Despite taking down No. 2 Florida with a season-high score and drawing one of the largest crowds ever seen in Fayetteville, Joscelyn Roberson’s team didn’t earn one of the top eight qualifying spots for the SECs. The blow was staggering. A program on the rise, now watching from the sidelines.

Head coach Jordyn Wieber was candid, saying after the SEC cutoff, “I am disappointed for our student-athletes that they will not be given the opportunity to compete this weekend under the same scoring parameters afforded to every other Division I program.”

At NCAA Regionals, the Razorbacks gave it everything. But under the weight of a high-pressure session and elite opponents, they couldn’t secure a top-two finish. Just like that, the dream was over.