Sunday, February 21	Scores	Stream
12:00pm ET/9:00am PT – [8] Michigan @ [20] Illinois	LINK	BTN+
1:00pm ET/10:00am PT – Eastern Michigan @ Western Michigan	LINK	ESPN3
1:00pm ET/10:00am PT – Central Michigan @ Kent State	LINK	FREE
2:00pm ET/11:00am PT – [22] Ohio State, Maryland @ Penn State	LINK	BTN+
2:00pm ET/11:00am PT – Towson @ William & Mary	LINK	FREE
2:00pm ET/11:00am PT – [18] Iowa State @ Illinois State	LINK
2:00pm ET/11:00am PT – LIU @ New Hampshire	LINK	FREE
2:00pm ET/11:00am PT – SEMO @ Lindenwood	LINK	FREE
4:00pm ET/1:00pm PT – West Virginia @ [9] Denver	LINK	DU($)
4:00pm ET/1:00pm PT – [24] North Carolina @ Temple	LINK	FREE
5:00pm ET/2:00pm PT – [13] Cal @ Oregon State	LINK	P12N

After Michigan’s 197.6 on Monday, Minnesota came back with a 197.6 of its own yesterday. So now what does Michigan have?

Rotation 1

Waight – VT – Illinois – hits a y1/2, medium step forward, some knees. 9.750

Heiskell – UB – Michigan – blind to jaeger, looks solid – good hs – pak, legs together – casts look solid – full to double tuck, small movement on landing and then an excitement salute hop

Mueller – VT – Illinois – bounce back on her yfull, some direction, piking in the air. 9.725

We see a 9.9 from one judge for Heiskell. 9.875 final.

Mariani – UB – Michigan – clear hip to tkatchev, good height – short cast hs after – hits bail – final cast looks closer – DLO, finds the stick. Not quite as crisp as Heiskell on the bars but did have a stick. 9.800

Did we miss Biondi’s vault entirely? Anyway she got a 9.800. replay large lunge forward on a y1/2? Are we sure that was the 9.8 vault? OK.

Wilson – UB – Michigan – ooooh damn, took her piked jaeger wayyy to close to the bar and hit both of her achilles on the bar and came off. Ouchies. Resumes with her bail, hit – DLO, large lunge back

Townes – VT – Illinois – pulls around her Y1.5, a little short, slide back, tucks it toward the end. 9.850

Vault scores verrrry loose.

Brenner – UB – Michigan – blind to jaeger to overshoot, solid amplitude – some hip angle in overshoot – short cast hs on high – DLO, secure landing, brings heels together. Good. 9.875

O’Donnell – VT – Illinois – we see the every end of this vault, a slide back? Also no sound on this broadcast. It’s going awesome. 9.725

And the lighting of bars is very dark. It’s like a witch’s house in here, David.

Brooks – UB – Michigan – good first hs – blind to piked jaeger, ht – solid cast – bail, legs together, good vertical – DLO 1/1 and finds the stick. Really excellent work.

9.875. What is the thought process on that going the same as Brenner and Hesikell?

Simons – VT – Illinois – great amplitude on her full – small bounce back. 9.850

Wojcik – UB – Michigan – good first hs – toe on deltchev, nicely done – a bit short on next cast and quick through her bail position – good final cast hs – DLO, a little low for her but fine, small hop.

Another 9.875 for Wojcik. Those were some rather dissimilar routines getting the same score in that rotation.

Michigan 49.300, Illinois 48.975

That’s a season high for Illinois on vault. Michigan survives the fall from Wilson with all those 9.875s for a perfectly fine 49.300. Good hit from Koulos in exhibition.

Interested to see if Michigan has Wilson go on vault now after slicing her feet off on the high bar.

“I’m excited to see Natty Wozik.” I liked it better when the sound wasn’t working.

Rotation 2

Heiskell – VT – Michigan – beautiful yfull, great extension, near stick, small slide back

9.950! For a non stick on a yfull! What a fun time!

Borden – UB – Illinois – jaeger to overshoot, solid amplitude – good cast – blind to front 1.5, lunge back, but solid. 9.800

Brenner – VT – Michigan – hits a Y1.5, a tad short, small slide back, knees in the air. 9.825

Biondi – Ub – Illinois – hits jaeger, some flexed feet – bail, good vertical – shorter final cast on high – DLO, secure landing. 9.875

Wojcik – VT – Michigan – hits her y1.5 with a larger bounce forward. 9.850

O’Donnell – UB – illinois – blidn to jaeger, solid – bail, nice toe point – a couple borderline short casts – giant full to double tuck, step back. 9.775

Wilson – VT – Michigan – she does vault and hits her Y1.5 – lunge to the side – solid layout position. 9.900.

Takekawa – UB – Illinois – blind to piked jaeger, very close but not a close as Wilson’s, loses form but is able to wok through it – bail, large arch that she also has to bring back – DLO, lunge back. She kept it going but lots of major errors.

Morrison – VT – Michigan – good Y1.5, step to the side, smaller step than Wilson but also came in a little deeper. 9.825

These vault scores: literal nonsense? I’m searching for consistency and…I’m going to need more clues.

Mizuki – UB – Illinois – she lives! – good first hs – blind to piked jaeger, pretty form – good cast hs – lone overshoot, some angle – good casts throughout – giant full to double tuck, step back. That works. She was supposed to be a star for Illinois but has been injured for 85 seasons. 9.900 with a 9.950 from one.

Brooks – VT – Michigan – Y1.5, hit, large hop forward. 9.825

49.350 on vault for Michigan, which is a strong score, but they didn’t bring the landings sufficiently to take advantage of how soft the vault scoring was today. Well, except for Heiskell.

Ewald – UB – Illinois – blind to jaeger, good – pak, hit – a bit late on 1/2 turn on low bar – good final cast hs – FTDT, crossover step. 9.875

After 2: Michigan 98.650, Illinois 98.200

Illinois nearly matches Michigan’s bars score by going 49.225.

It’s the slo-mo audio on the replays for me.

Rotation 3

Illinois is going to have to outscore Michigan if they want to come away with the win. IS THAT HOW IT WORKS?!?!?!

Townes – BB – Illinois – she’s showing personality in this routine you guys – switch to straddle 1/4, arm wave correction – kickover, hit – bhs loso, under control – full turn, slight hesitation – cat leap to side aerial to tuck full, holds the stick. Good secure routine, some knees things but solid. 9.800

Duderson thought it should get 9.9 because of code.

Morrison – FX – Michigan – double pike, overdoes it, bounce back, stays in bounds – double tuck, this one somewhat short with a small step forward – split leap full to popa to popa, bouncy – front lay to front full, lunge out.

Mueller – BB – Illinois – full turn, small hesitation – bhs loso, smooth series – switch to straddle 1/4, under control, short of straddle – beat to kickover, strong – 1.5 with a lean forward to try to sell a stick but steps. 9.725

These cutouts behind beam kind of look like the missing people wall in a dystopian future series.

Koulos – FX – Michigan – opening switch full – 2.5, has the height, controlled landing – double pike, solid – switch 1/2 to wolf full, somewhat short on switch position – front lay to front full, hit. 9.825

“Her only event of the day.” You’ve literally seen her exhibition twice already.

Biondi – BB – Illinois – bhs loso series, good amplitude, has the extension – switch to stag ring, only a small hesitation – side aerial, step back – 1.5, hop forward. 9.800

Brenner – FX – Michigan – double tuck, small slide – 1.5 to layout, slightly soft, landing under control – switch side to popa, some inaccuracy in landing position – double pike, nailed landing. 9.875

Noonan – BB – Illinois – bhs loso series, hit – switch to loso, pretty quickly connected, confident work – beat to stag ring, amplitude – gainer full, small step forward. 9.850

Wojcik – FX – Michigan – double pike, under control – split full to wolf full, good leap positions – front 2/1 to front, just a tad steppy – rudi to straddle jump, controls the straddle jump travel pretty well. Lovely work. 9.925

Scott – BB – Illinois – kickover, slight hesitation into bhs but will get credit – switch, check, no combination – beat – switch, a small hesitation into stag ring, may get her dance series there though – gainer full. 9.800 comparatively very high. She had a lot of hesitations. 9.700/9.900 split. 9.9 you OK honey?

Brooks – FX – Michigan – full in, great control on landing, love how blurry it was – front tuck through to double tuck, also very secure – split leap full to split jump full, somewhat short of 180 on second split – double pike, pretty short, has to hop forward. 9.850

Takekawa – BB – Illinois – side aerial to bhs, nice – switch to loso, clean – good full turn – gainer full, hop back. 9.900. So someone gave Scott and Takekawa the same score.

Wilson – FX – Michigan – open full in, strong work – front lay to front full, shows control well – switch side to popa, very high splits – double tuck, slide back. 9.925

We have a multi-fall affair for Illinois in exhibition.

49.400 for Michigan on floor to 49.150 for Illinois on beam.

Bauman shows floor exhibition. Good double pike. Nice switch 1/2 but loses her position in connected wolves. Double tuck, hit. 1.5 to layout, a fine option.

After 3: Michigan 148.050, Illinois 147.350

Michigan on track for another solid 197 with a hit beam, though the 197.6 range looks out of reach. Illinois will expect a season high today as they don’t even need to hit 49 on floor to get it.

The concept of exhibition routines is one of the most prime examples of gymnastics not understanding that it is a sport.

Rotation 4

Bauman – BB – Michigan – bhs loso, pretty solid, just a little hesitant on landing but not even a check – switch 1/2 to split jump, gets up well on split jump – piked side somi, arm wave correction – side aerial to full, step back. 9.825

Mueller – FX – Illinois – double pike, bounce back – front lay to full, some knees toward the end – switch 1/2 to wolf full, around – double tuck, secure landing. 9.825

Wilson – BB – Michigan – lone hitch kick – bhs loso, good height, lean to the side – cat leap to switch side, lean forward to hold it – double tuck dismount completely out of frame but probably good? 9.825

The consistency. It still eludes me.

Biondi – FX – Illinois – double pike, chest up – “they’re judging you based on personality” – GREAT – front lay to front full, hit – switch side to wolf full – double tuck, chest down, minor stagger back. 9.850

Farley – BB – Michigan -bhs loso loso, solid hit, chest a bit down – split jump to split side, short of 180 – 1.5 turn, nice – side aerial, hit – gaienr pike, a little low, slide back. 9.800. Another 9.900/9.700 split.

Noonan – FX – Illinois – front 2/1, keeps back foot down – rudi, slide back, good height and twisting position is less ragged than most rudis – switch ring to cat leap 1.5, some control issue on the cat – 1.5 to layout. 9.850

Mariani – BB – Michigan – side aerial, lean – split to straddle 1/4, great lift on straddle – switch side, again, strong – bhs loso and falls – resumes with 1.5, short, lunge back. 9.100

Townes – FX – Illinois – front 2/1, hit with crossover step, much better than in the touch – 1.5 to front full, some lack of control there with a lunge out – split leap full to popa, high leaps –

Brooks – BB – Michigan – bhs loso loso, very strong – switch to switch, good 180 positions – kickover front, nailed landing, chest well up – double tuck, bounce back, great on the back. 9.850

I almost died during her dismount because I saw a 9.975 being flashed for Townes but that was a mistake. I think. They meant 9.875.

Simons – FX – Illinois – good lift on double pike, front foot comes up a little – 1.5 to layout, solid, good positions – switch side to popa, hits her 180s – double tuck and comes up well short, ankle cruncher and smartly elects to stop her routine – limping off as a coach does some CSI floor.

Wojcik – BB – Michigan – aerial to beat, lovely – switch to split, ideal – bhs bhs loso, right on – full turn, good – 1.5 landing, holds the stick. Pretty much identical to last week.

9.975 for Wojcik. I’m OK with that 9.950. Slight hesitation on full turn turn and some body position to hold the stick, combining to be like, “not quite your 10”

Scott – FX – Illinois – front 2/1, hit with a lunge forward out of it – switch ring to split leap full is nice – 1.5 to layout, good – rudi to finish, under control well. 9.900

FINAL: Michigan 197.325, Illinois 196.650

That’s the #2 score on the second so far for Michigan and a solid road total for its first road meet. Though this was a loosely evaluated meet (although inconsistent), so Michigan will have wanted to get a few more landings to take advantage of that. Michigan’s weird schedule means most of the road meets are at the end of the season.

Tons more happening right now, and beginning shortly. I am going on break and will be back later.

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OK I’m back. Denver and WVU is starting shortly, as is UNC Temple. Because I bought a month of Denver for that Oklahoma meet a couple weeks ago, I still have access to that one and will tell you about it.

Ohio State went 196.400 to win that tri, ahead of Maryland’s 196.275 and Penn State’s 195.925.

Iowa State had an epic beam meltdown to get stuck in the 193s.

New links alert for Temple and UNC.

Denver back to six on every event. Still no Sundstrom.

Rotation 1

Ruiz – VT – annnnd we missed it because of a closeup of Melissa. Replay – hit a full but short, hop forward. 9.725

Abarca – UB – WVU – good first hs – giant full to gienger, high, legs apart on catch – good vertical on bail, has the toe point – casts look strong – giant full to double tuck, lunge back. 9.700

Casali – VT – DU – good amplitude on her full medium bounce back. 9.800

Combs – Ub – WVU – maloney to pak, good, legs apart on pak – short 1/2 turn on low – shortish cast hs but close – giant full, legs, into double tuck, small hop. 9.700

Glynn – VT – DU – Tsuk full – a bit better on the control, still a full tenth bounce back but closer, some pike. 9.750

Hornung – UB – WVU catches close on a jaeger but works through it – bail – short cast hs on high – blind to front giant 1/2 to double tuck, good stick. 9.600

Hutchinson – VT – DU – medium pace back on full, has a leg separation on her block – good amplitude and open in the air. 9.800

Kianna Yancey – UB – WVU – short first hs – toe on to maloney to pak, some feet – hitch in her 1/2 turn on low bar, late but works out of it – short cast hs on high – DLO, large lunge back, 9.650

Mundell – VT – DU – back but with just a full, hop back – great height , pikes down a bit at the end to find it, and the hop. 9.800

Norris – UB – WVU – blind to piked jaeger, nice – large arch on cast hs but brings it back into bail – another short cast on high – DLO, step back

Brown – VT – DU – Y1.5 – exceptional job, stuck landing, great height. That’s the best vault I’ve seen this weekend.

She goes 9.950. With a 9.900/10.000 split. Got there in the end? Though of course we’ve seen weaker vaults go 10.

The 9.900 judge also went 9.850 for Hutchinson and I have 6 questions about that.

Kayla Yancey – UB – WVU – short first hs – blind to jaeger to overshoot, some feet but hit – shortish cast hs on high – blind to front giant 1/2 to double tuck, step back. But good. 9.700

Denver gets to 49.100 on vault thanks entirely to Brown. It’s just 48.450 on bars for West Virginia. Lots of handstand issues and full-tenth dismount lunges today.

Rotation 2

Kianna Yancey – VT – WVU – hits a secure yfull, small slide back, legs apart on block, some piking. 9.700

Ruiz – UB – DU – good first hs – giant full to tkatchev, hit, good full position, tkatchev a little low but fine – bail, clear vertical – shorter cast hs befroe dismount – DLO, takes it a bit close to the bar, hop back. 9.850

Kayla Yancey – VT – WVU – similar to her sister, small hop back, some piking on her yfull. 9.650

Thompson – UB – DU – takes her jaeger too far and falls – finishes DLO with a hop back. 9.050

Waldron – VT – WVU – better dynamics on her full, good lift off the table, large bounce back, still some pike. 9.725

Casali – UB – DU – short first hs – toe on to maloney to bail, nice legs together, solid vertical positions – some hip angle in final cast hs – great distance on DLO but overdoes it with a bounce back. 9.800

Lewis – VT – WVU – yfull, lands short with a lunge forward and off to the side – but pretty layout position in the air – 9.600

Mundell – Ub – DU – tkatchev, excellent – good toes in cast hs – toe on to bail, strong vertical position – hitting her cast hs – DLO, hop back. 9.900

Pierson – VT – WVU – pulls around her Y1.5 but does not have the control on landing with a large lunge forward and additional ste. 9.750

Glynn – UB – DU – clear hip to gienger, great legs on catch – short cast out of it – bail, right to vertical – FTDT, lands too deep with a step forward. 9.825

Holmes-Hackerd – VT – WVU – has added the full back these last few times – large lunge back – fully straddled on block. 9.675

Brown – UB – DU – good first hs – maloney to pak, strong leg position – small arch in cast on low – van leeuwen, hit – DLO, smooth and excellent stick. 9.900

A 48.475 for WVU on vault with a couple counting 9.6s.

49.275 for Denver on bars.

After 2: Denver 98.375, WVU 96.925

Rotation 3

Brown – BB – DU – kickover to bhs, very quick, secure – smooth full turn – switch to split, good attention to position – aerial to wolf, strong – gainer full, hhaha holds the stick but has to lean forward and swim for it. Still, she’s having herself a day. 9.750.

9.850/9.650 split. What was 9.650’s deal?

I’m going to say, Lynnzee has gotten hosed today.

Linnen – FX – WVU – rudi to loso, pretty extension – switch ring to split leap full – front 2/1 final pass, just does pull it around, deep landing with a lunge. 9.750

Thompson – BB – DU – side aerial to loso, hit, some leg form – switch to switch, pretty solid 180s – side aerial to full, hop back. 9.850

Holmes-Hackerd – FX – WVU – double tuck, chest up, small rebound – split leap full to popa, nice rise to 180 on her popa – front lay to front full, again rises in the second element well – double pike, solid. 9.850

Schlottman – BB – DU – bhs loso, hit, slide back – switch to split 3/4, solid – side aerial, comfortable – gainer full, holds the stick with a little lean. 9.725

Hornung – FX – WVU – double pike, secure landing, just chest down some – 1.5 to layout, not bad on the layout extension – switch ring to straddles, good straddle 180s – 1.5 to front pike, pops up in front pike . 9.775

Hutchinson – BB – DU – kickover to bhs, small pause but fine – switch to split, nice switch – aerial to split, gainer full, shuffle back. 9.775

Cal and Oregon State to start soon. Is this the first time Alisa has done a non-Washington meet?

Lewis – FX – WVU – rudi to loso, good height – split leap full to jump full, looks like she hit them, just got a little low – double tuck, secure landing. 9.875

Mabanta – BB – DU – wolf turn, good – bhs loso, very secure and extended, works right into real split leap – switch 1/2 to split, great 180s again – side aerial to full, just a bit off line with some movement. 9.900

Oregon St/Cal starting.

Peterson – VT – OSU – full on back tuck, hop back, solid. 9.750

DeSouza – Ub – Cal – blind to piked jaeger to overshoot, good height, like how she stays extended on overshoot – borderline cast hs – FTDT, stuck landing. Strong work. 9.900

Bird – VT – OSU – lunge back on her yfull, medium size, good chest up, slightly soft in knees. 9.725

Li – UB – Cal – good first hs – pak, very high – good cast on low – van leeuwen, legs right together – smooth hs – giant full to double tuck, small hop. 9.900

(No Vasquez today for Denver on beam Ruiz anchoring.)

Yanish – VT – OSU – some of her best control on her yfull landing, small slide back – great layout position. 9.875

George – UB – Cal – good first hs – tkatchev, not huge but fine – good cast after – right to vertical on bail, holds it to ensure she doesn’t go over, it was a worry for second – toe on – FTDT, stuck landing, Another good one. 9.900

S Gonzales – VT – OSU – hits a full on to back pike, lunge back, saved it – pretty solid pike position. 9.800

Schank – UB – Cal – blind to piked jaeger to overshoot, lovely – a little shorter in a couple casts today – DLO, she sticks as well. Nice. 9.925.

L Dagen – VT – OSU – very strong yfull, small step back, crisp layout position. Second step back to her salute? 9.900

Bordas – UB – Cal – blind to her huge jaeger and overshoot, the most amplitude on that connection – hits handstands – giant full into double tuck. Another stick. This is an amazing rotation. 9.925.

M Dagen – VT – OSU – sits down her Y1.5. Comes up short. Thankfully today OSU didn’t need her score quite as much with a 49.050 already.

Green – UB – Cal – good first hs – clear hip to huge gienger, legs together – bail, maybe a little short of vertical? – good cast hs on high – FTDT, a little jarred on landing, hop forward.

49.550 bars rotation for Cal, which comes up .025 short of the program record.

After 1: Cal 49.550, Oregon St 49.050

Phenomenal bars rotation for Cal. Some of the best handstands you’ll see, and I appreciate the attention to maintaining the layout position in overshoots. Most people pike those hips. Oregon State will be disappointed about not getting the Madi Dagen score, but it still went over 49, so not a problem.

Was that Lockhart we saw for Denver getting helped off the floor after warmups?

Abarca is leading off the beam rotation for WVU – cat leap to side aerial, very clean – bhs loso, secure, a hint of soft knee – switch – will have to redo it into her straddle 1/4 for a dance combo, hit but a lean forward on landing – 1.5, stuck.

Rotation 2

Schank – VT – Cal – great stick on her full, she has come along as a vaulter – good layout shape – just a little bit of stuff to take for dynamics. 9.900

M Dagen – Ub – OSU – shortish first hs – bail, probably not vertical credit – toe on to giant full to double tuck, stuck. Did what she can do. 9.675

Bordas – VT – Cal – another strong yfull – minor slide back – some piking at the end. 9.825

Hoiland – UB – OSU – long wait for the Dagen score – blind to piked jaeger, hits it, some feet – short cast hs – overshoot – good hs on high – giant full to double tuck, stuck. Risking some SV in not getting that bail to handstand. 9.775. Or not.

Clausi – VT – Cal – goes with the yfull and its solid, two small steps back. 9.775

Denver has a fall from Casali on floor on her 2.5 to front tuck. That follows a fall from WVU from Pierson on beam.

Young – Ub – OSU – clear hip to toe on to maloney to overshoot, hit combination – shortish cast hs – DLO, a bit low but hit, hop forward. A LOT better than we were seeing from her earlier in the season. 9.725

DeSouza – VT – Cal – Y1.5 – nearly sells the stick on her landing, little hop forward into her step-salute – some feet, good – 9.825

Another bars judging delay.

Mack – UB – OSU – tkatchev, hit – some short hs – blind to a straddle back that does not get to handstand – good cast hs on high – FTDT, step forward. 9.625

George – VT – Cal – lovely yfull as always, only a tiny slide back – great layout shape. 9.925.

So one judge gave a perfect 9.950 without a stick. Cool. Very cool. There are rules.

Weirdly inconsistent evaluation in this rotation?

Bird – Ub – OSU – bail, al little short but not bad – stalder – huge height on tkatchev, but does catch close – FTDT, good stick. Just some cast hs positions but the best so far. 9.850

Li – VT – Cal – in the vault lineup today and it’s worth it – a small slide back on hers, off direction a little, some feet

Peterson – Ub – OSU – bail, some leg separation- short cast on high – double front and pulls it around, shuffle back, it didn’t look like she was going to land that when she was in the air but she got it. 9.675

9.875 for Andi Li gives Cal 49.350 on vault.

West Virginia survived the beam rotation with five hits.

Brown will not do floor today for Denver. Mabanta anchors – double tuck, lunge back and OOB on a routine that will need to count – lovely switch ring and switch 1/2 – front lay to rudi, lovely layout shape.

Alisa’s “as judged by them there…” when talking about one judge going perfect for George’s vault was sublime.

WVU finishes 195.300. Denver will be at 196.550. Not a bad score by any means but not their best day. Didn’t have Brown on floor. Some lower-than-hoped beam scores. But it’s still a mid-196

After 2: Cal 98.900, Oregon St 97.750

Two huge rotations for Cal. Nice landings on a lot of those fulls, very little movement. Sometimes none, according to the judges. Oregon State’s bars rotation was…survived. It’s just going to be an adventure, but they got away with 48.700, which is a big deal for them. Lots of SV risk in a lot of those short low-bar handstand releases.

Rotation 3

Peterson – BB – OSU – switch 1/2, short of split – bhs bhs loso series, secure landing – split jump to split 3/4, confident – gainer pike, stuck. A good one. 9.925 is higgggggh.

Quinn – FX – Cal – front lay to rudi, mostly holds down the front foot – switch side to popa, really nice lift in straddle positions – double pike, nearly showed a stick and then hopped back. 9.875 also pretty high.

Pacific Northwest judging is like, “Don’t call us tight.”

Bird – BB – OSU – kickover to bhs, solid – split jump attempt, very short of split and was that supposed to be connected to something? – full turn, slight hesitation – cat to switch 1/2 and I think she might be a witch? Literally how did she save that because I think zero feet made it on the beam. 9.700. I think she got some save bonus there.

Bordas – FX – Cal – double tuck, under control, just some chest down – 1.5 to layout – switch to switch ring 1/2 to wolf jump, pretty solid ring position work – rudi, excellent landing. 9.825. This is the second straight week where I feel like the Quinn and Bordas scores should be switched.

Young – BB – OSU – aerial with a leg-up check – does bhs loso, hit, some feet – switch to split to stag ring, comfortable combination – gainer front full, stuck. Strong second half there. 9.750

DeSouza – FX – Cal – double pike, more trouble this week, overdone with a large lunge – switch side to popa, not sure what happened there, uncharacteristically low on both elements – 1.5 to full, small slip on landing, saves it, right into the corern – rudi looks solid. 9.775

Domingo – BB – OSU – aerial to back tuck, arm wave correction – switch to straddle to split jump 3/4, smooth combination – gainer full, stuck. Nice work. 9.775

Split screen is fine, if used sparingly. We don’t need it unless there’s something to see.

Schank – FX – Cal – double tuck, overdone a little, bounce back – double pike, anohter stumble back, multiple steps – OOB – clearer finishes on her dance elements this week – 1.5 to layout, has to tuck aroudn the layout. That will need to be the drop score. 9.550

Gonzales – BB – OSU – aerial to side aerial to side position, well done – switch 1/2 to bhs, switch 1/2 pretty short of split – side aerial to full, step back. 9.775

George – FX – Cal – front 2/1 to front tuck, excellent, stuck landing – switch ring to split leap full, ideal positions – rudi, a little movement on landing but pretty much excellent overall. 9.900 is weirdly calm for this meet?

George obviously hops back on her yfull: “IT WAS PERFECT”
George does an actually amazing floor routine: “IT WAS WORSE THAN THAT”

M Dagen – BB – OSU – bhs loso series, very secure – switch to switch 1/2, short positions, little arm wave out of it – side aerial to full, stuck.

Green – FX – Cal – on floor? – back 1.5 to front full, solid, just slight knees – switch to split ring 1/2, a little bouncy – punch rudi, bounce back – well that was perfectly acceptable. That can stay in the lineup. 9.875

Alisa telling us that Dagen may have been short of her base 8 elements on beam. Or I guess not because Dagen ends up with 9.925.

Oregon State 49.150 on beam, Cal 49.250 on floor. Oregon State on track to its first 196 if floor goes OK. Cal on track for a season high if beam goes OK.

After 3: Cal 148.150, Oregon State 146.900

Selfishly, Cal has a bunch of scores tied for its fifth-best ever and it’s throwing off the formatting of the team scoring records page, so it would help me out a lot if this total is over 197.325. I really need it to not be exactly 197.325.

Rotation 4

Clausi – BB – Cal – kickover with an arm wave, breaks connection into sissone – bhs loso series is solid – cat leap to switch side, nice – cat leap to side aerial to tuck full, stuck. Great second half, but had that pause before the sissone. Gets 9.875.

Mack – FX – OSU – front lay to rudi, slide back – switch side to popa, shows clear landing positions – double pike, good security, just some chest down – straight jump full to sit split is fun. 9.850

Earlier I was like, “Who is losing it in the background for these routines?” I shouldn’t have needed to ask. Of course it is Isis.

DeSouza – Bb – Cal – aerial to sissone, smooth – bhs loso, off line and falls – beat to sheep, hit – 1.5 dismount, large balance check trying to hold onto the stick. 9.300

Bird – FX – OSU – front lay to rudi to staddle jump, a little travel but pretty well controlled overall – switch 1/2 to popa, nice lift and positions there – 2.5, little slide forward. Good. 9.900 is rather high.

Li – BB – Cal – aerial, small hesitation into beat jump – bhs loso series, hit, another wiggle adjustment – switch ring into beat jump, pretty solid landing on switch ring – gainer pike, small hop. 9.850

Peterson – FX – OSU – double tuck, chest up, secure landing – front lay to front full with a dance out – switch 1/2 to popa – double pike, chest down with a lunge forward. 9.875. They are setting up for a Yanish 10.

George – BB – Cal – aerial, keeps arms moving into back tuck, even if a little slow, swings arms down to avoid a real check – wolf double, solid – wolf jump, somewhat short of wolf position – beat to split ring jump, secure – gainer full, stuck. 9.925

39.650 for George in AA, and floor tied for her lowest score.

Force – FX – OSU – double pike, two lunges back and OOB – switch 1/2 to popa – front lay to front full, some loose position in front lay – doubel tuck, chest down, step forward. 9.725

Bordas – BB – Cal – hitch kick to aerial, keep arms going into split jump – bhs loso series, hit, small lean – switch to split jump, good 180 on switch – gainer full, small slide

M Dagen – FX – OSU – front 2/1, gets it around, small slide but controls that back foot pretty well – switch 1/2 and popa look good – front lay to front full, solid – double pike but bounces back for another OOB. Given how things have been going, this should still be a countable score because it was the strongest of the rotation until that point. 9.725. Or whatever.

9.900 for Bordas means Cal is at 197 even with counting DeSouza’s fall.

Watterson – BB – Cal – a pressure routine for her – wolf double, hit well – bhs loso series, major arm wave and a leg-up wobble but stays on – switch to split leap is solid – cat leap to side aerial to full, stuck. So a major error in there but will be a higher score than DeSouza so will improve the total.

Yanish – FX – OSU – DLO, good control on landing, one of her best DLO landings – front full to layout, little bounce forward – switch side to popa, good 180s – double tuck, small slide, good position in the air. Best of the rotation by far but a couple things to take.

Watterson goes 9.725 to give Cal a 197.425 total, which is Cal’s 5th-best score ever. Not a conservative scoring situation today but another improvement. Green showing a competitive floor and Li showing a solid vault were encouraging developments.

Yanish goes 9.950 to give Oregon State 196.200, an important venture into the 196s to record a countable score for NQS.

Saturday, February 20	Scores	Stream
3:00pm ET/12:00pm PT – Washington @ Arizona	LINK	FREE
6:00pm ET/3:00pm PT – Rutgers @ [10] Minnesota	LINK	ESPNU
8:00pm ET/5:00pm PT – [7] Iowa @ Nebraska	LINK	BTN+

Just three non-simultaneous meets on the docket today, and I’m not really sure I know how to handle that situation. So, like, during a rotation break…what does one…do?

I’ve pretty much been thinking of this as a “not Washington’s year…” situation with regard to regionals, but there’s still time (a little bit) if they can start 195ing.

Rotation 1

Horton – VT – AZ – large bounce back on her tucked Yfull and an additional step. 9.675

SKW – UB – UW – piked jaeger to overshoot, good form and amplitude – nice cast hs on high – front giant 1/2, small hesitation, into double tuck, stuck. Really nice work. 9.875

Continue reading Saturday Live Blog – February 20, 2021 →

Friday, February 19	Scores	Stream
5:00pm ET/2:00pm PT – Ball State @ Bowling Green	LINK	FREE
6:00pm ET/3:00pm PT – [4] Oklahoma, George Washington, William & Mary @ NC State	LINK	ACCN
6:00pm ET/3:00pm PT – [24] North Carolina, Pittsburgh, LIU @ Towson	LINK	FREE
7:00pm ET/4:00pm PT – [15] Kentucky @ [1] Florida	LINK	SECN
7:00pm ET/4:00pm PT – Eastern Michigan @ Northern Illinois	LINK	NIU($)
7:00pm ET/4:00pm PT – Centenary @ TWU
8:00pm ET/5:00pm PT – [12] Georgia @ [19] Auburn	LINK	SEC+
8:30pm ET/5:30pm PT – [2] LSU @ [6] Alabama	LINK	SEC+
8:30pm ET/5:30pm PT – [25] Missouri @ [5] Arkansas	LINK	SECN
9:00pm ET/6:00pm PT – [14] UCLA @ [3] Utah	LINK	ESPNU
9:00pm ET/6:00pm PT – [23] Utah State @ [17] Southern Utah	LINK	FREE
9:00pm ET/6:00pm PT – [21] Boise State, Air Force @ [11] BYU	LINK	BYUTV

It’s going to get a little…uh…busy later in the day with a number of simultaneous and interesting meets to follow, so if I die, it’s your fault exclusively.

I’ll start with these first couple quad meets. Generally commenting on whatever happens to be interesting and being sure to keep an eye on what’s happening with Oklahoma.

Continue reading Friday Live Blog – February 19, 2021 →